Why are flights being canceled across Indonesia this week? Major disruptions hit Bali, Jakarta, and Singapore routes

Indonesia’s air travel network is currently facing one of its most turbulent weeks in recent memory, as a wave of flight cancellations sweeps through the country’s busiest airports — from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport to Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta and Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport.

At least 19 flights were canceled earlier this week, with additional disruptions reported through the weekend. The situation has affected both domestic and international travelers, causing widespread delays and uncertainty across key routes connecting Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Bangkok, and Auckland.

Growing Travel Disruptions Across Major Airports

Indonesia’s aviation sector, already under strain from rising post-pandemic demand, is struggling to maintain schedule stability. Several carriers — including Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, Jetstar Airways, and Malindo Air — have canceled multiple flights due to operational challenges ranging from aircraft availability to weather and crew shortages.

Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport

At Juanda, one of Indonesia’s busiest domestic hubs, Batik Air’s early morning flights to Bali and Jakarta were among the most heavily affected.

• BTK6414 to Bali was grounded on both Thursday and Sunday.

• BTK6581 to Jakarta was canceled on Friday afternoon.

These disruptions have left passengers scrambling to rebook limited available seats.

Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali

Bali’s gateway airport, crucial for tourism and international travel, has seen the highest volume of cancellations.

• Jetstar Airways flights to Melbourne (JST36 and JST44) were canceled on multiple days.

• Garuda Indonesia’s flight to Halim Perdanakusuma (GIA463) was canceled midweek.

• Batik Air also grounded several services to and from Surabaya.

The impact is significant for both foreign tourists and locals as Bali remains Indonesia’s most-visited destination.

Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

At the nation’s largest aviation hub, several Garuda Indonesia, TransNusa, and AirAsia flights to Singapore and Bali were canceled across consecutive days.

• TransNusa TNU151 and TNU153 to Singapore were scrapped between Tuesday and Thursday.

• Garuda Indonesia GIA828 to Singapore and GIA868 to Bangkok were both canceled twice on Sunday.

Business travelers and international passengers with connecting flights have been especially hard hit.

Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta

Even smaller domestic hubs are not immune. Garuda Indonesia GIA462, scheduled to depart from Halim to Bali on Wednesday evening, was also canceled — compounding travel headaches for those connecting through Jakarta’s secondary airport.

Wider Impact on Tourism and Travel

The wave of cancellations has rattled Indonesia’s tourism-dependent regions, particularly Bali, where thousands of travelers have had to extend hotel stays or reroute through other countries such as Singapore or Thailand.

Local travel agencies report a surge in rebooking requests, while airlines continue to struggle with limited fleet capacity and crew scheduling. Corporate passengers on regional routes — especially to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Singapore — have also faced major itinerary disruptions.

Underlying Causes of the Cancellations

Aviation analysts point to a combination of factors behind the chaos:

• Aircraft maintenance delays and rotation conflicts

• Crew shortages during peak demand periods

• Unstable weather and airspace congestion

• Operational overcapacity amid rising travel demand

While Indonesia’s aviation industry has rebounded strongly since the pandemic, its infrastructure and scheduling systems appear to be under growing strain.

What Travelers Should Do

Experts recommend that passengers:

• Confirm flight status with airlines before heading to the airport.

• Opt for flexible or refundable tickets when possible.

• Check for alternate flights or rebooking options through airline apps or customer support.

• Plan longer layovers if connecting through Jakarta or Bali to avoid missed transfers.

With cancellations now extending to neighboring hubs like Singapore’s Changi Airport, travelers across Southeast Asia are advised to stay alert for cascading disruptions.

Conclusion

This week’s widespread flight cancellations have exposed Indonesia’s ongoing aviation challenges. The simultaneous disruptions across Bali, Jakarta, and Surabaya illustrate how fragile the recovery remains for regional carriers still rebuilding post-pandemic capacity.

Until airlines stabilize operations and improve scheduling coordination, travelers should brace for continued delays, cancellations, and last-minute itinerary changes.

FAQs

Q1: Why are so many flights being canceled in Indonesia?
Operational issues such as aircraft maintenance, crew shortages, and weather-related factors have led to numerous flight cancellations across major Indonesian airports.

Q2: Which destinations are most affected?
Flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Bangkok, and Bali have seen the most cancellations.

Q3: Which airlines are experiencing disruptions?
Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Jetstar Airways, and TransNusa are among the most affected carriers.

Q4: What should passengers do if their flight is canceled?
Travelers should check for rebooking options, request refunds, and confirm new travel times directly with their airlines.

Q5: How long are these disruptions expected to last?
While no official timeline has been given, analysts suggest intermittent disruptions could persist for several weeks as airlines adjust schedules and recover from operational backlogs.