Vietnam–Indonesia Flights Resume After Jakarta Airport Reopens: What Travelers Need to Know

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Update: September 8, 2026. Flights between Vietnam and Jakarta are beginning to recover after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau caused major disruption across Indonesia.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), Jakarta’s main international gateway, officially resumed operations early on September 8 after being temporarily closed because of volcanic ash.

However, the recovery is expected to be gradual. Airlines are still working through disrupted schedules, aircraft and crew rotations, and passengers affected by several days of cancellations and delays.

If you are flying between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta, your flight may now operate, but you should still check its latest status directly with the airline before going to the airport.

What Happened to Vietnam–Jakarta Flights?

Mount Anak Krakatau in Indonesia produced significant volcanic ash beginning September 4. The ash spread across western Indonesia and caused major disruption to aviation.

Eight airports were temporarily affected, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main international airport.

The disruption affected thousands of flights and hundreds of thousands of passengers across Indonesia.

Vietnam was directly affected because Jakarta has important nonstop connections with both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam Airlines was forced to adjust its schedule on September 6 and 7, including adding additional flights to help passengers whose journeys had been disrupted.

Is Jakarta Airport Open Now?

Yes.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport officially resumed operations at 00:01 WIB on September 8, 2026.

Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta and Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung also resumed operations shortly after midnight. Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport reopened at approximately 02:25 WIB.

Two airports in Lampung — Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas — remained closed pending further assessment.

The reopening followed inspections and cleaning of airport operating areas, including runways, taxiways and aprons. Runway friction tests also confirmed that the facilities met the requirements for flight operations.

However, the recovery is being managed gradually rather than with an immediate return to full capacity.

Why Could My Flight Still Be Delayed?

The reopening of Jakarta Airport does not mean that every flight immediately returns to its original schedule.

During the closure, aircraft and crews were displaced, flights were cancelled or diverted, and large numbers of passengers were left waiting for new travel arrangements.

Soekarno-Hatta is therefore using Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) during the initial recovery period.

This allows authorities to gradually restore arrival and departure capacity while also clearing aircraft and passengers affected by the disruption.

As a result, travelers should expect possible:

• delays;
• rescheduled departures;
• changed aircraft;
• rebooking onto later flights;
• longer airport processing times.

What Is Happening With Vietnam Airlines?

Vietnam Airlines adjusted its Hanoi–Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City–Jakarta schedules during the disruption and added additional flights to help passengers affected by the September 6 airport closure.

On September 7, the airline scheduled additional services between Jakarta and Vietnam, including flights to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The additional flights were intended both to maintain the connection between Vietnam and Indonesia and to help clear the backlog of passengers whose journeys had been disrupted.

Now that Soekarno-Hatta has reopened, the airline can begin restoring its normal Jakarta schedule. However, Vietnam Airlines has warned passengers that flight schedules remain subject to operational conditions.

Passengers should therefore check the latest information on the airline’s website, app or official channels before travelling to the airport.

What About Flights From Hanoi to Jakarta?

The direct Hanoi–Jakarta route is operating again following the reopening of Soekarno-Hatta.

However, travelers should not assume that the original departure time shown on a booking made before the eruption will automatically remain unchanged.

Because aircraft and crew schedules were disrupted during the airport closure, airlines may need to make additional adjustments during the recovery period.

If you are departing from Hanoi, check your flight status shortly before leaving for the airport.

If your trip also includes onward travel within Vietnam, our Vietnam transport guide covers the main ways to continue travelling around the country.

What About Ho Chi Minh City to Jakarta?

The direct Ho Chi Minh City–Jakarta route is also returning to normal operation.

Vietnam Airlines operated additional services on September 7 to help passengers affected by the previous day’s disruption.

Other airlines operating between Vietnam and Indonesia may have their own recovery schedules, so passengers should check directly with the airline operating their flight.

Do not assume that because the airport has reopened, every airline has immediately restored its full timetable.

What If My Flight Was Cancelled?

If your Vietnam–Jakarta flight was cancelled because of the volcanic ash disruption, contact your airline to confirm your current booking status.

You may have been automatically rebooked onto a later service, particularly if you were affected by the September 6 cancellations.

If you have not received updated information, contact the airline or the travel agency through which you purchased the ticket.

Do not purchase a completely new ticket before checking your rebooking or refund options.

What If I Have a Connecting Flight in Jakarta?

This is one of the most important points for travelers.

If your itinerary is:

• Hanoi → Jakarta → Bali;
• Ho Chi Minh City → Jakarta → Bali;
• Vietnam → Jakarta → another Indonesian destination;
• Indonesia → Jakarta → Vietnam;

you should check every flight segment separately.

A flight from Vietnam may operate normally while your onward domestic flight has a different schedule.

The opposite is also possible: your domestic connection may operate, but a delay on the Vietnam–Jakarta sector could cause you to miss it.

If the flights were booked on separate tickets, the risk is greater because the airlines may treat them as independent journeys.

Should I Still Leave Extra Time for My Connection?

Yes.

Although Jakarta Airport is open again, the airport is still recovering from one of the largest aviation disruptions in Indonesia in 2026.

Authorities are gradually restoring flight capacity and prioritizing the movement of aircraft and passengers affected by the closures.

If possible, avoid arranging a very tight connection through Jakarta during the first days of the recovery.

A longer connection is particularly sensible if you are travelling on separate tickets.

Can I Still Fly From Vietnam Directly to Bali?

Yes. The reopening of Jakarta Airport does not mean that travelers must use Jakarta to reach Bali.

Direct Vietnam–Bali services are separate from the Hanoi–Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City–Jakarta routes.

However, if your booking connects through Jakarta, the situation at Soekarno-Hatta remains relevant to your journey.

Always check the exact routing shown on your ticket.

What About Vietnamese Airports?

Vietnamese airports are not affected by the Anak Krakatau volcanic ash itself.

The main issue for travelers departing Vietnam is the status of their flight to Indonesia and any subsequent connection.

If your journey begins in Vietnam, arrive at the airport according to your airline’s latest instructions and allow additional time for possible schedule changes.

For practical airport information, see our Vietnam airport guide.

Could Jakarta Flights Be Disrupted Again?

It is still possible.

Anak Krakatau remains an active volcano, and Indonesian authorities continue to monitor volcanic activity and ash movement.

Even though the latest airport reopening indicates that the immediate aviation situation has improved, another change in volcanic activity, wind direction or ash concentration could lead to further operational restrictions.

For this reason, airlines continue to monitor conditions and retain the ability to change flight schedules if necessary.

What Travelers Should Do Now

1. Check your flight directly with the airline before leaving for the airport.
2. Do not rely only on the original departure time on your booking.
3. Check every connecting flight separately.
4. Allow extra time if connecting through Jakarta.
5. If your flight was cancelled, contact the airline before buying a replacement ticket.
6. If travelling on separate tickets, leave a larger buffer between flights.
7. Continue monitoring official airline updates while the recovery is underway.

Bottom Line for Travelers

Vietnam–Jakarta flights are now entering a recovery phase after Jakarta’s main airport reopened.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed operations at 00:01 on September 8 after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau caused several days of major disruption.

This is good news for travelers between Vietnam and Indonesia. Vietnam Airlines had already added and adjusted flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta to help passengers affected by the disruption.

However, the recovery will not necessarily be immediate. Aircraft and crews need to be repositioned, airlines have to clear the backlog of stranded passengers, and airport capacity is being restored gradually.

If you are flying from Vietnam to Jakarta in the coming days, keep your booking, but check your flight status before travelling to the airport and allow extra time for connections.

Sources

• Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia — Soekarno-Hatta and other affected airports reopen
• ANTARA — Soekarno-Hatta resumes operations after Anak Krakatau eruption
• Reuters — Jakarta airport reopens after Anak Krakatau ash disruption
• Vietnam Airlines — Jakarta flight schedule adjustments and additional flights
• Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam — Vietnam Airlines Jakarta flight adjustments