Anak Krakatau eruption disrupts Jakarta airport operations and cancels flights from Singapore
The eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano caused cancellations, delays, diversions and other operational disruptions to flights at Soekarno-Hatta Airport near Jakarta, Indonesia. According to Channel NewsAsia, between 01:30 and 13:30 on September 6, they affected 301 flights: 233 domestic, 58 international and 10 cargo flights.
Operations at Indonesia's main hub for international and domestic travel were initially suspended until 05:30 Jakarta time, but the restrictions were extended several times. As of publication, sources were planning to resume airport operations at 18:30 Singapore time.
Flight cancellations from Singapore
At least 19 Singapore Airlines flights were cancelled due to volcanic activity about 180 kilometres from Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Some passengers arrived at Changi Airport unaware of the cancellations. They said they had not received notifications from the carrier or had seen a confirmed flight status in the app.
A passenger travelling to Indonesia with her husband, who is seven months pregnant, learned about the cancellation while preparing to board. She noted that because of the rescheduled departure, she may need a new medical certificate confirming her fitness to fly.
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Another traveller received a cancellation notification from Scoot, but her flight was shown as confirmed in the Singapore Airlines app. Singapore Airlines representatives also told one passenger that he could apply for reimbursement of travel expenses to the airport if he had a receipt.
Queues at Jakarta airport
At Soekarno-Hatta, passengers stood in queues to rebook tickets, find seats on alternative flights or request refunds. Some learned about the cancellations only after passing immigration control and receiving boarding passes.
A passenger who was due to fly to Amsterdam said her flight had been cancelled and she had been transferred to an Emirates flight, but she was unsure whether it would depart. She was also told that hotel accommodation would not be reimbursed because the volcanic eruption was a natural disaster. Another passenger, after waiting in line for two hours, received a refund for her flight to Bali and planned to look for a route through Yogyakarta or Semarang in Central Java.
