TANGERANG - Soekarno-Hatta International Airport reopened early Tuesday, Sept. 8, after Anak Krakatau ash disrupted flights and prompted airline loss estimates of up to Rp19 billion a day.

The Indonesia National Air Carriers Association, or INACA, estimated airlines serving Soekarno-Hatta and Radin Inten II airports could face losses of Rp10 billion to Rp19 billion (up to about US$1.1 million) per day while the disruption continued.

INACA based the estimate on a simulation of the disruption. Kumparan reported that the association modelled 30 to 50 cancelled flights a day with passenger loads of about 80%, putting lost ticket revenue at Rp8 billion to Rp15 billion.

Extra fuel, crew and aircraft-parking costs were estimated at Rp1.5 billion to Rp3 billion, while meals, accommodation, refunds and other passenger services could add Rp500 million to Rp1.2 billion.

“If the disruption were to last seven days, the potential loss could reach around 70 billion rupiah to 130 billion rupiah,” INACA Secretary-General Bayu Sutanto was quoted as saying by The Business Times.

The disruption affected 2,961 domestic and international flights and about 341,000 passengers by Monday afternoon, according to Transport Ministry figures reported by Antara. The total included 2,339 domestic and 622 international flights.

The disruption followed the Anak Krakatau eruption and widespread airport closures.

Five airports reopened early Tuesday, while Atung Bungsu Airport had resumed operations on Monday, according to a Transport Ministry update reported by Antara. Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports remained closed pending further safety assessment.

Airlines also faced additional aircraft checks before operations fully normalized. Reuters reported that 178 aircraft at Soekarno-Hatta required airworthiness checks following the shutdown.

Anak Krakatau remained at Level III, or Siaga, with a three-kilometre exclusion zone in force. AirNav said it would continue updating aviation information as volcanic conditions and flight-safety assessments changed.