Impact Of Mount Ibu Eruption, Kuabang Airport Temporarily Closed

JAKARTA Operational Kuabang Kao Airport is temporarily closed due to the spread of volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Ibu in West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.

The decrease in airport operations is planned to last two days.

The operational closure of Kuabang Kao Airport is in accordance with Notam Number: C0187/25 NOTAMR C0183/25. Kuabang Kao Airport is closed starting February 14, 2025 at 09.38 East Indonesia Time (WIT) until tomorrow 15 February 2025 at 10.00 WIT.

Head of the Regional Airport Authority VIII Manado Ambar Suyoko said the closure of Kuabang Kao Airport was carried out to maintain flight safety and security.

The surrounding airports such as Sultan Babullah Airport, Buli Airport, Marimoi Airport are not affected by the eruption of Mount Ibu and airports are still operating.

"For airports around them, they are still open because they are not affected, it's just that some airlines choose to cancel flights," he said in an official statement, Friday, February 14.

Responding to this situation, as the Head of the Authority in the Manado Ambar Region ordered the Head of the Airport Organizing Unit to conduct regular observations through the paper test and coordinate intensively with AirNav Indonesia, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation and other stakeholders.

"Our job is to ensure flight safety and security. For this reason, we will continue to coordinate and ensure that the steps taken are in accordance with applicable rules," he said.

As a step to mitigate the impact of this closure, Ambar urges airlines to provide compensation to affected passengers, such as full refund, reschedule, or reroute to the nearest airport if available.

The flights affected by the eruption of Mount Ibu are the Manado-Kuabang PP route served by Wings Air with a three-time schedule a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.