Imagine arriving at the airport ready to fly home only to discover your flight has vanished from the schedule.
That is the reality for around 270,000 passengers across Indonesia.
The eruption of Anak Krakatau has grounded more than 2,000 flights.
Several airports are extending closures through Monday evening after volcanic ash entered nearby airspace.
The volcano, about 150km from Jakarta, began erupting Friday, sending lava fountains and ash across parts of Java and Sumatra.
Schools have shifted classes online, while some shipping operations have also been disrupted.
At Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport, long queues formed as frustrated travellers chased refunds and updates.
One passenger, Finna, said everyone was “glued to the flight information screens” as schedules repeatedly changed.
Uncertain Wait Continues
A newlywed Malaysian couple faced an even tougher wait after being told their flight home might not leave until September 11.
“What are we going to do here for another five days?” Amir Hamzah asked.
Authorities say the situation remains unpredictable.
Indonesia’s Geological Agency warned that the “probability of further eruptions” remains high.
While Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi admitted officials “cannot ascertain when this will end”.
With ash reaching heights of up to 15,000m, one question remains: when will Indonesia’s skies finally clear?
