Disaster

Forest-Fire Haze Forces 2 Flight Cancellations at Soetta Airport

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 17, 2026•3 min read

Two flights to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were cancelled on Saturday (17/10/2026) because visibility at several destination airports fell below minimum operational limits amid forest-fire haze.

Key Facts

Two flights to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta), Tangerang, Banten, were cancelled on Saturday (17/10/2026) due to reduced visibility caused by haze from forest and land fires (karhutla).
PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, through the Soekarno-Hatta Airport branch office, said the cancellations prioritized flight safety because visibility at several destination airports had fallen below minimum operational limits.
Yudistiawan, Assistant Deputy for Communication & Legal at the Soekarno-Hatta Executive Office, said the operator continues to monitor operational conditions and coordinate with airlines and stakeholders.
The airport operator prepared mitigation measures at every terminal to anticipate passenger buildups from delayed or cancelled flights.
Passengers are advised to regularly check flight status and schedules through their airlines' official channels before heading to the airport. Further information is available via the InJourney Airports Contact Center at 172.
The Forestry Ministry recorded 354 hotspots across Indonesia as of Friday (16/10/2026) night, with very unhealthy to hazardous air quality in Central Kalimantan, parts of South Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Jambi. A total of 61 aircraft have been deployed for firefighting operations.

Two Flights Cancelled

Reduced visibility from haze caused by forest and land fires (karhutla) across several Indonesian regions forced the cancellation of two flights to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta), Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday (17/10/2026).

PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, through the Soekarno-Hatta Airport branch office, recorded two affected flights. The cancellations were made on flight-safety grounds because visibility at several destination airports had dropped below minimum operational thresholds.

"We continue to monitor flight operational conditions and coordinate with airlines and relevant stakeholders to ensure affected flights and passengers are handled properly," said Yudistiawan, Assistant Deputy for Communication & Legal at the Soekarno-Hatta Executive Office, in Tangerang on Saturday (17/10/2026).

Mitigation at Every Terminal

The Soekarno-Hatta operator prepared mitigation measures at every terminal to anticipate potential passenger crowding from delayed or cancelled flights. The steps aim to keep passenger flows smooth while maintaining service standards for airport users.

"We are ensuring terminal mitigation measures remain in place so services for passengers run optimally. Currently, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport's operations remain under control," he said.

To anticipate travel disruptions, prospective passengers are advised to regularly check the latest flight status and schedules through their airlines' official channels before departing for the airport. Those needing further information on Soekarno-Hatta services can contact the InJourney Airports Contact Center at 172.

354 Hotspots, 61 Aircraft Deployed

The Forestry Ministry said monitoring by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) detected 354 hotspots across Indonesia as of Friday (16/10/2026) night. That was down 55.7 percent from 799 a day earlier, though South Sumatra recorded the highest count at 132 hotspots.

Very unhealthy to hazardous air quality was still recorded in Central Kalimantan and parts of South Kalimantan, with similar conditions reported in South Sumatra and Jambi. A total of 61 aircraft remain deployed for firefighting and related operations — 44 for water bombing and 17 for aerial patrols and weather modification.