Indonesia's Forest Fire Smoke Now Cancels Flights Beyond Kalimantan and Sumatra
Smoke from forest and land fires has disrupted domestic flights in Indonesia since 11 August, and the effects are now spreading east. Indonesia's Transport Ministry counted 1,813 scheduled domestic flights affected up to 12 October, most of them cancelled.[1] If you fly within Indonesia in the coming days, expect possible delays and cancellations, especially on Kalimantan routes.
Where flights are affected
The ministry says the largest impact so far was at airports in Kalimantan, followed by Sumatra and Papua.[1] For 10 to 12 October alone it recorded 95 affected flights operated by five airlines: 2 delayed and 93 cancelled.[1]
The ministry lists these airports as affected in its latest update:[1]
- Kalimantan: Palangka Raya (Tjilik Riwut), Pangkalan Bun, Pontianak, Ketapang and Berau.[1]
- Sumatra: Palembang.[1]
- Papua region: Sorong, Manokwari, Fakfak, Kaimana, Nabire and Wamena.[1]
- Maluku and North Maluku: Ambon, Dobo, Namlea, Ternate, Morotai and Labuha.[1]
- West Sulawesi: Mamuju.[1]
What decides whether a flight goes
The ministry states that operating decisions must put flight safety first and follow the actual visibility on the ground.[1] That means a flight can operate one day and be cancelled the next at the same airport.
What to do
- Check your flight status with the airline and the airport before you leave for the airport, as the ministry advises.[1]
- Leave buffer days before international connections if your route touches an affected airport.
- Ask your airline about rebooking or refund options if your flight is cancelled.
The ministry says it will keep publishing updates on the effects of the fires on flight operations.[1] The figures above are the latest official numbers we could verify, dated 12 October. For general entry and travel rules, see our Indonesia guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia: Asap Karhutla Ganggu Penerbangan di Wilayah Timur, Kemenhub Intensifkan Pengawasan Operasional Penerbangan. Retrieved October 16, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Transport Ministry lists airports in Kalimantan, Sumatra, Papua, Maluku, North Maluku and West Sulawesi, including Palangka Raya, Pontianak, Palembang, Sorong, Ambon and Ternate.
The ministry counted 1,813 affected domestic flights from 11 August to 12 October, most of them cancelled. For 10 to 12 October it reported 93 cancellations and 2 delays.
The ministry advises checking flight status through the official channels of your airline and the airport before departure.
