The Malaysian Guide

Anak Krakatau Ash Cancels 20 Malaysia-Jakarta Flights

· 2 min read Travel News
Kuala Lumpur International Airport departure terminal

Contents

  1. Which Flights Are Affected
  2. What to Do if Your Flight Is Cancelled
  3. Background

Twenty Malaysia-Jakarta flights were cancelled on Sunday, 6 September 2026 after Anak Krakatau volcano erupted in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, blanketing the Jakarta area in volcanic ash and forcing Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to suspend all operations.

Malaysia Airlines cancelled 12 Kuala Lumpur–Jakarta return flights operating through KLIA. Batik Air Malaysia cancelled a further 8 services — 6 on the Kuala Lumpur–Jakarta route and 2 operating out of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang) to Jakarta.

Which Flights Are Affected

  • Malaysia Airlines: All MH-coded KL–Jakarta return services on 6 September. Passengers are advised to check flight status on the Malaysia Airlines website or call the airline’s disruption line.
  • Batik Air Malaysia: KL–Jakarta and Subang–Jakarta services operating on 6 September. Check the Batik Air app or contact customer service.

The cancellations affect both departures from KLIA and return flights from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta, which remained closed until at least 5:30 p.m. Jakarta time (10:30 GMT).

What to Do if Your Flight Is Cancelled

Both airlines are offering free rebooking or refunds for passengers affected by the volcanic ash closure. Travellers should:

  1. Contact your airline directly — rebooking queues are long; the airline app is often faster than calling.
  2. Check travel insurance — volcanic disruption qualifies as a natural event under most travel policies. If you don’t have cover yet, compare travel insurance for Malaysia.
  3. Monitor airport status — Soekarno-Hatta Airport updates are published by Angkasa Pura; BMKG issues ash dispersion forecasts that determine when the closure lifts.

If your travel plans to Malaysia are unaffected, our Kuala Lumpur city guide has everything you need for the capital. For general questions about safety and entry requirements, see our Malaysia travel safety guide. For alternative flights into Malaysia, compare fares across carriers.

Background

Anak Krakatau is one of Southeast Asia’s most active volcanoes and has erupted multiple times in recent years. This eruption follows a 30-second event at 3:53 a.m. local time on 6 September, with no tsunami warning issued and no reported casualties. Indonesian authorities are monitoring the situation continuously.

We will update this page as services resume. Passengers with upcoming KL–Jakarta bookings in the next 48 hours should check directly with their airlines for revised schedules.