Indonesia Opens Alternative Airports 24 Hours
Kabarsaji.com – When Mount Anak Krakatau erupted and sent a dense ash plume sweeping across West Java, Lampung, and South Sumatra, eight airports around Jakarta and the surrounding provinces were grounded in a single coordinated shutdown. Within roughly a day of the closures taking effect, the Indonesian government activated its contingency protocol: Indonesia opens alternative airports 24 hours around the clock so that airlines could reroute displaced flights and stranded passengers could continue their journeys without indefinite delay.
Eight Airports Grounded by the Ash Cloud
The closure order, effective until Sunday at 23:59 WIB, swept up both Jakarta’s primary international gateway—Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang—and its secondary domestic terminal, Halim Perdanakusuma. Regional fields caught in the same ash corridor included Radin Inten II and Taufik Kiemas in Lampung, Husein Sastranegara in Bandung, Budiarto in Curug (Tangerang), Pondok Cabe in South Tangerang, and Atung Bungsu in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra. The simultaneous shutdown of eight facilities within one volcanic-ash corridor marked one of the widest aviation disruptions in recent Indonesian history.
Five Backup Fields Shifted to Continuous Operations
To absorb the displaced traffic, the Ministry of Transportation moved five airports into uninterrupted, around-the-clock service: Kertajati in Majalengka (West Java), Ahmad Yani in Semarang (Central Java), Juanda in Surabaya (East Java), Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA), and Adi Soemarmo in Solo (Central Java). Each site is now accepting both arrivals and departures for carriers that need to divert flights away from the ash-affected zone.
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed the arrangement in Jakarta on Sunday, clarifying that the government’s role is to keep the infrastructure available while leaving the operational decision to each carrier.
“I mentioned earlier that we are providing alternatives for airlines to use—since we have opened alternative airports like Kertajati,-semarang, Juanda, YIA (Yogyakarta), and Solo—for 24-hour operations.”
The Minister stressed that airlines retain full discretion over whether and when to divert. Fleet readiness, crew scheduling, cargo commitments, and passenger-specific needs all factor into each carrier’s individual call. Travelers, meanwhile, may choose to continue through the substitute field or cancel their booking outright.
“It depends on the public whether they still wish to travel by shifting their journey to these alternative airports or to cancel their trip.”
Complimentary Ground Transport for Diverted Passengers
A diverted flight does not end a traveler’s problem, so the Ministry of Transportation, together with InJourney Airports (the state-owned airport operator), arranged free train and bus links between Soekarno-Hatta and whichever substitute airport an airline selects. No fee is charged for this shuttle service; the measure is framed as a public-service obligation ensuring that stranded passengers can reach their onward destination while the principal Jakarta gateway remains suspended by volcanic ash.
Coordination and Passenger Communication
Implementation of the diversion and transport protocols is managed jointly by InJourney Airports and the affected airlines. The stated objective is to ensure every displaced passenger receives unambiguous information about the new departure point, available transport modes, and revised schedules. Airlines are tasked with communicating diversion details and updated departure times directly through call centers, mobile applications, and email notifications. The government has committed to intensive, ongoing coordination among airport authorities, carriers, ground-handling agents, and transport operators throughout the disruption period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airports were closed, and for how long? Eight airports—including Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and six regional fields—were closed until Sunday at 23:59 WIB, pending clearance of the ash plume by meteorological authorities.
Can I still fly if my flight was diverted? Yes. Airlines may reroute your flight to one of the five 24-hour backup airports. You may also cancel your booking; the decision rests with the carrier and, ultimately, with you as the passenger.
Do I have to pay for ground transport to the alternative airport? No. Train and bus services linking Soekarno-Hatta to the substitute fields are provided at no cost by the Ministry of Transportation and InJourney Airports.
How will I learn my revised departure details? Your airline will notify you through its established channels—call center, mobile app, or email—with the new departure airport, transport instructions, and updated schedule.