The smoke fog covered the area of Kualanamu International Airport, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Thursday (15/10/2026). The intense smoke is visible from Kualanamu Airport Road to the airport area, as recorded in the Field Orbit documentation. Although airport operations are generally said to be still running normally, a number of flight schedules are affected.

Muhammad Zul Andrika, Humas International Airport of Kualanamu, said in a WhatsApp message that three flights were cancelled and four delayed. Meanwhile, local media on the afternoon that two flights were cancelled – both owned by Susi Air – and four were delayed.

Susi Air was initially deferred to General Abdul Haris Nasution Airport in Mandailing Christmas only in the morning, but was eventually cancelled because the weather did not improve. Another cancelled Susi Air flight served the route to Rembele Airport in Aceh. The longest delay reached 3 hours 35 minutes for J&T Express cargo to Soekarno-Hatta and 3 hours 30 minutes for Citilink to Hangim, Batam.

The Bureau of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) recorded the viewing distance at 09.00 WIB only 1–3 kilometers based on observations of Kualanamu Meteorological Station, Aek Godang, and Silangit. Head of BBMKG Region I Medan, Hendro Nugroho, stated that air quality in a number of areas of North Sumatra on 15 October 2026 was in the category of moderate to unhealthy.

In the city of Medan, the air quality index even reached 201 – a very unhealthy category – with a concentration of PM2.5 of 126 micrograms per cubic meter according to IQAir data. North Sumatra BMKG forecaster Martha Manurung predicted that the smoke fog would last for the next three days.

Satellite imagery on October 14 detected three hotspots in Labuhanbatu and South Tapanuli, North Sumatra. BMKG said wind patterns from east–southeast to northwest–indicate the smoke potentially originated from the southern Sumatra region and Kalimantan, although the exact origin still requires further analysis.

The impact of the smoke fog was not only felt in Kualanamu. Hang Nadim Batam Airport also suffered delays of Citilink, Super Air Jet, and Lion Air flights due to decreased viewing distance. In Central Tapanuli, Wings Air flights on Kualanamu–Pinangsori–Kualanamu route at FL Tobing Airport have been cancelled since 14 October because of the viewing distance of less than 3 kilometers.

The day before, seven flights in Kualanamu were also delayed due to similar conditions. People were urged to reduce outdoor activity and wear masks, especially vulnerable groups such as children, elderly and people with respiratory diseases. Local governments and related agencies continue to monitor the development of air quality and fire points in the field.