Flights Resume at Yogyakarta Airport After Volcanic Eruption

When Mount Merapi erupted late last week, the sky over Yogyakarta turned an unsettling gray, and the city’s main gateway – Adisutjipto Airport – was forced to shut its doors. The ash plume, drifting southward, threatened visibility on the runway and raised concerns about engine ingestion for any departing or arriving aircraft.

In the days that followed, airlines scrambled to cancel or reroute dozens of flights, leaving travelers stranded and tourism operators scrambling for alternatives. Hotels reported a dip in bookings, and local businesses that rely on daily commuters felt the pinch.

But the volcano’s fury has begun to wane. By early Monday morning, meteorological teams reported that ash concentration had dropped to safe levels, and the airport’s runway inspection crew gave the green light for limited operations. As a result, the first commercial flights took off just after sunrise, carrying a mixture of relieved passengers and cautious crew members.

“We’re thrilled to welcome passengers back,” said a spokesperson from the airport authority. “Safety remains our top priority, so we’ll continue to monitor ash fallout and adjust operations as needed.” The statement reflected a familiar tone among Indonesian officials, who have long balanced economic needs with the unpredictable nature of the country’s many volcanoes.

Airlines such as Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Citilink have announced staggered flight schedules for the next 48 hours, focusing on domestic routes to Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali. International carriers remain on hold, pending further volcanic assessments.

Travelers are being urged to stay updated via airline alerts and to pack a few extra masks – not just for the usual airport hustle, but also in case a sudden gust of ash stirs up again. The local tourism board has also issued advisories, reminding visitors to respect exclusion zones around the volcano and to heed any evacuation notices.

While the resumption of flights is a welcome sign of normalcy returning, experts caution that Mount Merapi is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. Continuous monitoring by the Volcanology and Geological Survey of Indonesia (VGSI) will determine whether the airport can stay fully operational or if another temporary shutdown might be on the horizon.

For now, though, the hum of jet engines is back over Yogyakarta, and the city breathes a little easier, hopeful that the ash will stay where it belongs – on the slopes, not on the runway.