Malaysia Airlines cancelled 12 flights between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta on September 6, 2026, amid disruptions caused by volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau [1, 2, 3]. Batik Air also cancelled 8 scheduled flights on September 6 and 7, including six from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and two from Subang Airport [1, 4, 2, 5, 3, 6].
The cancellations followed the temporary suspension of operations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport due to ash fallout. The airport closed until 1:30 pm local time on September 6 to ensure safety amid the ash presence in the airspace [7]. In total, 31 flights nationwide to Jakarta were cancelled on September 6, including 21 from Kuala Lumpur, six from Penang, one from Kuching, two from Subang, and one from Kota Bharu airports [7].
Mount Anak Krakatau began erupting on September 4 with ash plumes reaching 6,000 meters on the Java side and 15,000 meters on the Sumatra side. The eruption intensified on September 6 with increased lava fountains and ash emissions [7, 8].
Volcanic ash poses serious risks to aviation. Batik Air stated the ash can reduce visibility, interfere with aircraft navigation systems, and potentially compromise engine performance [1]. Malaysia Airlines emphasized, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our utmost priority" in cancelling flights [1].
Malaysian authorities and airlines urged passengers traveling to or through Jakarta to regularly check their flight status and be prepared for changes. The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta advised travelers to monitor their flights for rescheduling or alternative routes [8, 9, 10].
Batik Air continued to cancel flights on September 7 following the latest volcanic ash assessments, maintaining restrictions on the Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta route [4, 5, 6].
