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Major airports in Indonesia reopened on Tuesday, days after a volcanic eruption grounded flights across the country, with authorities saying normal operations would resume gradually.
The disruption, caused by the eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcano situated in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, halted nearly 3,000 flights and stranded more than 340,000 passengers.
Five airports, including Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, the country's main hub serving the capital Jakarta, reopened after authorities cleared volcanic ash from critical infrastructure.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said it may take some additional time for flight schedules to return to normal.
"We will be operating these aircraft, but before we do so, we want to ensure their airworthiness. So, it may take a bit of extra time," he said, referring to the nearly 180 jets currently at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport.
"We ask for a little patience from passengers and the public, as we will be carrying out inspections to ensure that these aircraft are fit to fly."
Airport operator Angkasa Pura Indonesia said in a statement that it had cleared volcanic ash from the runway and other areas to ensure the facilities were safe for flights.
Three planes had already departed shortly after the airport reopened in the early morning, including two commercial flights to eastern Indonesia, the minister said.
At the airport, Indonesian businessman Heri, who — like many Indonesians — uses only one name, said he had been scheduled to travel to Egypt on Monday, but his flight was canceled.
"I was worried for a while," the 52-year-old said. "To travel abroad, we have to prepare everything well in advance. That's what had us concerned, because we couldn't do things in a hurry and everything was still unclear. That's why we rushed over here to make sure we could leave today," he added, saying he still did not know when he would be able to fly.
Nozomi, a Japanese tourist, said the airport closure had left her confused because authorities had not provided clear information.
"I hope things stay like this, no delays, no closing airports. I hope everyone can go where they want to go," said the 37-year-old homemaker, who had traveled to Indonesia for a family holiday.
Anak Krakatau, which means "Child of Krakatau," had a major eruption on Saturday and erupted at least three more times on Tuesday morning, according to Lana Saria, head of the national Geology Agency.
The volcano has been sporadically active since it emerged from the sea nearly a century ago in the caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatau.
A 2018 tsunami triggered by the collapse of parts of Anak Krakatau killed more than 400 people and displaced thousands.
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