Faktain News – Jakarta – The operational impact of forest and land fires (karhutla) on Indonesia’s domestic air travel sector continues to escalate, with a significant increase in affected flights. The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has reported that as of October 17, 2026, a total of 2,458 scheduled domestic flights have been disrupted by haze. This figure marks an increase of 437 flights compared to data recorded just four days prior, on October 13, 2026.

The Director General of Air Transportation at Kemenhub, Lukman F. Laisa, stated that the repercussions of the land fires on flight operations commenced on August 11, 2026. The government maintains continuous monitoring of conditions across various regions to uphold aviation safety standards.

“Based on data as of October 17, 2026, a total of 2,458 scheduled domestic flights have been impacted by Karhutla since August 11, 2026,” Lukman explained in a written statement issued on Monday, October 19, 2026.

The previous count on October 13, 2026, stood at 2,021 affected flights, highlighting the rapid deterioration in operational conditions over the intervening period.

Breakdown of Flight Disruptions

The disruptions encompass a range of operational changes, reflecting the challenges posed by reduced visibility. The breakdown of affected flights includes:

• 1,080 flights experienced delays.
• 1,324 flights were either cancelled or postponed.
• 22 flights were diverted to alternative airports.
• 6 flights returned to their originating airports.
• 26 flights had their schedules advanced.

Kemenhub attributes these operational challenges primarily to the haze, which significantly diminishes visibility around airport environments.

Expanding Haze Impact and Mitigation Efforts

The geographical reach of the haze-induced flight disruptions has expanded. Between October 13 and 17, 2026, the impact extended beyond the previously affected regions of Kalimantan, Papua, and Sumatra, now encompassing Sulawesi, Maluku, and North Maluku.

Several key airports have been affected, including Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport in Palu, Sultan Babullah Airport in Ternate, Pattimura Airport in Ambon, Supadio Airport in Pontianak, Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangka Raya, Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru, and Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang.

“Haze reduces visibility around airports, which can lead to delays, postponements, and even flight cancellations. Every operational decision is made with paramount consideration for safety,” Lukman affirmed.

To proactively address the inherent risks, the Directorate General of Air Transportation has instructed airport operators in affected areas to implement Low Visibility Procedures (LVP). This directive is to be executed in collaboration with AirNav Indonesia and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Airport authorities are also mandated to issue NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) as necessary, heighten airside operational readiness, and enhance passenger services. This includes providing timely flight information and distributing masks to travelers.

Kemenhub advises passengers to monitor the latest updates from their respective airlines prior to heading to airports and to exercise caution regarding unverified information.