Anak Krakatau eruption causes Rp 40 billion loss for Angkasa Pura

The eruption of Anak Krakatau has caused significant aviation disruptions in Indonesia, leading to an estimated loss of Rp 40 billion for PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia. The volcanic ash spread forced the temporary closure of seven airports, including major hubs such as Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Halim Perdanakusuma, Raden Inten II, and Husein Sastranegara.

Operational Director of Angkasa Pura, Agus Haryadi, noted that the closure of Soekarno-Hatta was particularly impactful, resulting in the cancellation of flights for at least 130,000 passengers over two days. The decision to close the airport was based on safety protocols after testing revealed the presence of black glass in the volcanic ash, a compound previously associated with the 1982 eruption of Mount Galunggung.

The regional impact has extended to neighboring Malaysia, affecting flight routes between Malaysia and Jakarta. Experts suggest that the incident serves as a warning for Southeast Asian aviation ecosystems to improve cross-border coordination and emergency preparedness, emphasizing the need for rapid and consistent information sharing among meteorological agencies, airlines, and airport operators.