Transport Minister: Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra Back to Normal Operations
As an update, Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra, which had been temporarily closed, has been able to operate normally as of today at 09.00 WIB.
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi stated that Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra, previously closed due to the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau (GAK), resumed normal operations on Monday.
“As an update, Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra, which had been closed, has been able to operate normally as of today at 09.00 WIB,” the Minister said when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.
The airport had previously been temporarily closed on Sunday (6/9) at 23.59 WIB along with seven other affected airports. The closure was then extended until Monday (7/9) at 09.00 WIB.
The seven airports still closed until 18.00 WIB are Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, and Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung.
They are followed by Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, Budiarto Airport in Curug, Tangerang, Pondok Cabe Airport in South Tangerang, and Taufik Kiemas Airport in West Lampung.
The Minister said a number of airports in Sumatra and Java remain operationally affected by volcanic ash from GAK spreading into Banten Province as of Monday (7/9) morning.
Based on the operational status update at 09.00 WIB on Monday (7/9), airports affected by Mount Anak Krakatau’s volcanic ash will remain closed until 18.00 local time.
These are Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Banten under NOTAM A3373/26 NOTAMR A3368/26; Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung; Budiarto Airport in Banten; Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta; Pondok Cabe Airport in Banten; Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas Airport in Lampung; and Husein Sastranegara Airport in West Java.
“Last night Mount Anak Krakatau erupted again, producing new volcanic ash. The BMKG has also said that the wind direction around Mount Anak Krakatau varies across several layers in the atmosphere,” the Minister explained.
“Some blow from the east-southeast, others from the northeast to the southwest, and so on. As a result, ash is still lingering around airports close to Mount Anak Krakatau,” he added.
According to monitoring by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) on Monday (7/9) morning, volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau was still detected at two altitude layers, up to 15,000 feet and 50,000 feet.
The condition could still affect flight routes, so adjustments to airport and flight operations continue to be made, taking into account the spread of volcanic ash and the latest aviation safety information.
As of Monday (7/9) at 09.00 WIB, the impact of Mount Anak Krakatau’s volcanic ash on flight operations was recorded at around 2,300 flights and 270,337 affected passengers.
The figure is a cumulative tally of operational impacts since 5 September 2026, covering flights that were cancelled, delayed or diverted.
At airports under temporary closure, 1,397 flights with around 177,579 passengers were affected, while at other airports where flights were affected by route adjustments, 922 flights with around 92,758 passengers were affected.
The Ministry of Transportation continues to coordinate with airlines and airport operators to manage the impact on passengers and ensure services to the public continue to run in accordance with regulations.
The Minister added that once airports can reopen, flight preparations will be carried out immediately. A number of preparations will still need to be made after an airport reopens and before it is ready to resume operations. He asked the public to remain patient during the preparation period.
“As part of the preparations, once conditions allow an airport to reopen, we will carry out measures such as cleaning the runway, taxiways and apron. This is so that when the situation permits, the airport is ready to operate,” the Minister explained.
He added that to maintain flight connectivity while a number of airports are closed, the ministry has also prepared several alternative airports that can be used according to operational needs and conditions.
Six airports have been designated as alternatives: Juanda Airport in East Java, Adi Soemarmo Airport in Central Java, and Yogyakarta International Airport in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
They are followed by Adisutjipto Airport in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, General Ahmad Yani Airport in Central Java, and Kertajati International Airport in West Java.
“We encourage airlines to use these airports to avoid a build-up of passengers, both arriving and departing. We hope passenger management can be optimised,” the Minister said.