Haze from forest fires impacts 2,458 flights nationwide: ministry
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Transportation Ministry has recorded a total of 2,458 flights affected by heavy haze from widespread forest and land fires across various regions in Indonesia between August 11 and October 17, 2026.
Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa announced on Sunday (October 18) that the figure marks an increase of 437 flights compared to the 2,021 flights recorded as of October 13, 2026.
The mounting disruption stems from rapidly deteriorating visibility across multiple regional hubs as fires continue to blanket parts of the archipelago.
The disruptions comprise 1,080 delayed flights, 1,324 cancellations or postponements, 22 diversions, 6 returns to base, and 26 schedule advances.
Between October 13 and 17, the haze spread beyond Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua to newly affected areas in Sulawesi, Maluku, and North Maluku—impacting a total of 26 airports nationwide.
Related news: Haze forces cancellation of two flights at Soekarno-Hatta
Beyond domestic routes, the smoke claimed 14 international flights—affecting Singapore-Pontianak and Singapore-Palembang routes—alongside 22 subsidized pioneer and cargo flights across regional hubs like Singkep, Kuala Pembuang, Tanah Merah, and Gorontalo.
An additional 20 domestic flights faced cancellations due to unrelated hazards, including volcanic ash from Mount Lewotolok and Mount Dukono, adverse weather, and technical issues.
In response to the crisis, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has instructed airport operators in affected regions to enforce Low Visibility Procedures in coordination with AirNav Indonesia and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), issue Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), and enhance terminal passenger services.
At the same time, water-bombing operations continue to scale up with 38 aircraft logging 5,179 flight cycles—while local airports provide dedicated parking, fuel supplies, and monitoring posts to support firefighting efforts.
Aviation authorities are urging the public to remain calm, exercise patience with schedule adjustments, and verify travel updates directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.
Related news: Indonesian govt monitors haze risk to flights at 16 Papua airports
Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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