Mount Anak Krakatau Ash Cloud Grounds 2,300 Flights, Strands 270,000

(MENAFN) Indonesian aviation authorities extended the shutdown of seven airports — including Jakarta's main international gateway — until 6 pm local time (1100GMT) Monday, as volcanic ash spewed by Mount Anak Krakatau continued to disrupt air travel across the region, officials and local media said.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport remained packed with travelers Monday morning after hundreds of flights were suspended over ash-related safety concerns, media reported.

The volcano, located roughly 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Jakarta, erupted Saturday, sending a towering ash plume into regional airspace.

Long lines formed at affected airports as passengers scrambled to secure refunds or rebook flights, with many departures pushed back to Tuesday.

"At this point, around 2,300 flights have been affected and approximately 270,000 passengers have been impacted by the volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau," Berton Panjaitan, a spokesperson for Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency, told Turkish media in a statement Monday.

Eight airports initially suspended operations Sunday after ash was detected in nearby airspace. By 9 am (0200GMT) Monday, seven remained closed, while Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam had resumed normal service, Panjaitan said.

He described the closures as a precautionary step grounded in aviation safety protocols.
"The status of these airports is continuously reviewed based on volcanic ash dispersion and aviation safety," he added.

"Our priority is safety, and we will resume normal operations as soon as conditions are safe."

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