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Six flights to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were canceled on Monday, October 19, 2026, due to the effects of haze from forest and land fires. Kompas reported that the haze reduced visibility at several destination airports to below the minimum threshold for flight operations. Despite the cancellations, the airport operator said activities generally continued to run smoothly and remained under control.
Routes and airlines have not been disclosed
Yudistiawan, Assistant Deputy for Communication and Legal Affairs at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, said operational data showed that six flights had been canceled. However, the airport had not disclosed the affected routes or airlines.
The disruption occurred as haze blanketed several regions of Indonesia. Reduced visibility at destination airports can disrupt flights because operations must comply with applicable minimum thresholds. Under such conditions, safety is the primary consideration before a flight can proceed.
Mitigation measures prepared at terminals
Soekarno-Hatta Airport management said mitigation measures had been put on standby at every terminal. The measures were intended to anticipate potential passenger buildups or crowding resulting from schedule changes or flight cancellations.
The airport also continues to coordinate with airlines and relevant stakeholders. Flight operations and assistance for affected passengers are being monitored. Prospective passengers are advised to check the latest flight status and schedules through official airline channels before traveling to the airport. Additional information about services at Soekarno-Hatta Airport is available through the InJourney Airports Contact Center at 172.
AirAsia says operations remain relatively under control
In a report by Kontan, Indonesia AirAsia said it had not experienced any significant impact from haze caused by forest and land fires in Sumatra or Kalimantan as of October 19, 2026. Eddy Krismeidi, Director of Indonesia Affairs and Strategic Communication at Indonesia AirAsia, said the airline continued to monitor weather and visibility at destination airports and coordinate with relevant parties.
According to Eddy, flight adjustments will be made if the haze begins to affect safety. The airline is also continuing to assess the impact of the conditions on demand for flights and financial performance. He emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew remains the priority.
Thousands of domestic flights affected
Kontan reported that the Ministry of Transportation recorded 2,458 scheduled domestic flights affected by forest and land fires from August 11 to October 17, 2026. The figure was 437 flights higher than the 2,021 flights recorded as of October 13, 2026.
Bayu Sutanto, Secretary-General of the Indonesia National Air Carriers Association, said flight disruptions directly affect airline revenue. Disrupted flights do not generate the revenue originally projected, while various operating costs continue to accrue. According to him, airlines operating frequent flights in affected regions face a greater potential for disruption, including in Kalimantan, Maluku, North Maluku, and Sumatra.
INACA has not specifically calculated the potential losses to the aviation industry caused by the conditions. Bayu said airlines have limited room to improve efficiency when disruptions are related to flight safety. In addition to affecting industry operations, he said forest and land fires also affect public health.
