Indonesia airports reopen after volcanic ash disrupts thousands of flights

Indonesia has reopened its main airport in Jakarta and four others that had been closed ⁠due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau.

The five airports reopened on Tuesday after authorities cleared volcanic ash from critical infrastructure.

The disruption affected more than 340,000 travellers and approximately 2,900 flights.

Videos shared on social media by Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Jakarta showed firefighters and firetrucks clearing runways and other operational facilities covered by ash.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said it may take “a bit” longer for flight schedules to return to normal.

“We ask for a little patience from passengers and the public, as we will be carrying out inspections to ensure that these aircraft are fit to fly,” Dudy told reporters at the airport.

“The first departing aircraft was a cargo plane,” Dudy said. “We will be operating these aircraft, but before we do so, we want to ensure their airworthiness. So, it may take a bit of extra time.”

Anak Krakatau, which had a major eruption on Saturday, sits in a strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra.