More than 1,600 Malaysia Airlines passengers have been left stranded in Jakarta after flights were disrupted by the eruption of Anak Krakatau, prompting the national carrier to deploy additional services and larger aircraft to help bring affected travellers back to Malaysia.
With operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport gradually resuming, Malaysia Airlines has restored several scheduled services while increasing capacity on selected flights. The move is aimed at clearing the backlog of passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the volcanic activity.
Additional Flights And Larger Aircraft Deployed
Malaysia Airlines said its MH717, MH716, MH721 and MH723 services resumed on Tuesday (8 September). An additional service, MH726D, was also introduced, departing Jakarta at 1.15pm local time.
The airline has also upgraded aircraft on the MH721 and MH720 routes, deploying larger Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The wide-body jets offer significantly more seats, allowing the carrier to accommodate more stranded passengers and speed up the repatriation process.
The disruption affected passengers on both sides of the route. Malaysia Airlines said around 1,600 passengers in Jakarta were affected after seven flights were cancelled on 6 and 7 September, while 82 passengers in Kuala Lumpur were also impacted.
The cancellations were linked to the sudden volcanic eruption, which was considered an event beyond the airline’s control. Malaysia Airlines said that under the Malaysia Aviation Consumer Protection Code (MACPC), carriers are not required to provide compensation or additional recovery services in such circumstances.
Assistance Provided To Affected Travellers
Despite this, Malaysia Airlines said it had decided to provide assistance to affected passengers as part of its commitment to passenger welfare.
Travellers requiring special assistance, as well as families travelling with young children, were offered complimentary hotel accommodation and meal vouchers where necessary. The support was intended to ease some of the inconvenience caused by the unexpected disruption.
Meanwhile, flight operations between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 and Jakarta remained affected as of Tuesday morning.
A total of 23 flights between the two destinations had been cancelled, while two others were delayed. Operations at KLIA Terminal 2 were less affected, with all 18 Jakarta-bound and Kuala Lumpur-bound services operating according to schedule.
Travellers heading to or from Jakarta are advised to check their flight status with their airline before making their way to the airport, as volcanic activity and related operational restrictions can result in further changes at short notice.