Taipei: Taiwan's major international carriers canceled flights to and from Jakarta on Monday as volcanic ash from an eruption of Anak Krakatau remained over Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, temporarily halting takeoffs and landings. According to Focus Taiwan, the eruption forced Jakarta's main airport and six other airports in Indonesia to extend their shutdowns after volcanic ash affected air operations.
China Airlines (CAL) confirmed that its flight CI761 from Taoyuan to Jakarta and the return flight CI762 scheduled for Monday were canceled due to the closure of Jakarta airport. To accommodate affected passengers, CAL plans to deploy a larger aircraft for its flights CI763 and CI764, which are scheduled to depart Taoyuan on Tuesday night and return on Wednesday morning. CAL emphasized that it will continue monitoring local airport operations and weather conditions to adjust flight schedules as needed, ensuring flight safety. Passengers were advised to check the latest flight updates through CAL's website, mobile app, or SMS notification service.
EVA Airways also announced the cancellation of four Jakarta-Taipei flights on Monday, including its regular flight BR237 from Taoyuan to Jakarta and return flight BR238, along with flights BR237D and BR238D, which were rescheduled versions of flights canceled on Sunday. Starlux Airlines has indicated that some flights might be affected by the Anak Krakatau eruption, urging passengers to check flight status updates for the latest information.
Anak Krakatau, located about 150 kilometers west of Jakarta, began erupting late Friday and intensified on Saturday. The eruption spewed lava and towering plumes of ash, with loud volcanic activity audible hundreds of kilometers away. Reports indicated that seven Indonesian airports remained closed on Monday due to the spread of volcanic ash, leading to delays or cancellations of more than 1,500 flights and stranding 170,000 people. More than 900 of the affected flights involved Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.