Kualanamu flights return to normal following Sinabung eruption
The Ministry of Transport (Kemenhub) has confirmed that flight operations at Kualanamu International Airport have returned to normal following the eruption of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra Province, as no volcanic ash was detected at the airport.
“Flight operations at Kualanamu International Airport are running normally,” stated the Director General of Civil Aviation, Lukman F. Laisa, in a confirmed statement on Thursday.
He reported that monitoring conducted on Wednesday (2/9) at 16:00 WIB detected no volcanic ash at Kualamen International Airport, a finding supported by the absence of ash on testing paper. The volcanic ash monitoring, using paper tests, was conducted at the airport between 08:00 and 16:00 WIB.
Nevertheless, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation continues to monitor and coordinate the development of Mount Sinabung’s activity and the potential impact of ash dispersal on flight operations, particularly at Kualanamu International Airport.
Lukman explained that according to SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) sourced from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) Darwin, eruption activity from Mount Sinabung was observed on 2 September 2026, with volcanic ash clouds reaching an altitude of 14,000 feet. The ash was moving southwest at a speed of approximately 5 knots, with intensity expected to remain stable without significant changes.
This SIGMET information was valid from 12:00 to 18:00 WIB on 2 September 2026. These conditions remain a focus for aviation safety monitoring, specifically regarding potential changes in wind direction and speed that could affect ash movement patterns and impact flight paths.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation receives updates on volcanic activity from VAAC Darwin and Meteorological Station Forecasters, which serve as the basis for coordination and mitigation efforts with airport operators, airlines, and relevant stakeholders.
Based on monitoring results, a thin layer of volcanic ash was detected in the aircraft parking area at Kualanamu International Airport on 1 September 2026. As an operational precaution, the airport was temporarily closed on Tuesday (1/9) under NOTAM A3250/26.
Airport operations have since reopened under NOTAM A3254/26 and NOTAM A3251/26, while continuing to account for aerodrome condition inspections and volcanic ash updates.
The closure of the airport on Tuesday (1/9) resulted in the cancellation of 45 flights and the rescheduling of 6 flights.
“Flight safety remains our top priority. We are continuously monitoring all developments in Mount Sinabung’s activity and its volcanic ash movement,” Lukman emphasised. He added that if any changes occur that could potentially affect flight safety, mitigation measures will be implemented immediately as required.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation also noted that airlines have the authority to evaluate and assess their flight operations based on actual conditions, including adjusting schedules, delaying, or cancelling flights if necessary to ensure safety.