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KUALA LUMPUR - Two flights bound for Jakarta have been diverted to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) following disruptions caused by volcanic ash from the Anak Krakatau eruption, with Malaysia allowing the airport to serve as an alternative gateway for affected aircraft.
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said Malaysia was assisting Indonesia by permitting affected flights to divert to KLIA amid the disruption to air travel.
“Some aircraft bound for Jakarta have been diverted to KLIA. So far, we have received two diverted flights.
“One of the diverted flights, operated from Oman, arrived at KLIA this morning, while another flight from Saudi Arabia was diverted to the Malaysian airport yesterday,” he said on the sidelines of the 61st Conference of Directors-General of Civil Aviation for the Asia and Pacific Region here at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur.
The diversions came after Indonesia suspended operations at eight airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main gateway, following the spread of volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau across parts of Java and Sumatra since last Friday.
According to Norazman, the disruption has affected air travel in the region, with about 170,000 passengers affected by flight cancellations so far.
The use of KLIA as an alternative airport provides an option for affected aircraft amid the continuing disruption to Jakarta-bound services caused by the volcanic ash.
