Wildfire Smoke Disrupts Flights Across Multiple Kalimantan Airports

Wildfire smoke cut visibility below 1,000 meters at Kalimantan airports between 18 and 21 August 2026, delaying at least 21 morning flights at Supadio and forcing a diversion to Batam.

Original report
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Industry impact

Recurring haze episodes in Kalimantan highlight how seasonal land and forest fires can repeatedly strain regional airport operations and flight scheduling reliability across Indonesia.

Wildfire smoke from forest and land fires disrupted commercial flight operations at multiple airports across West and East Kalimantan, causing delays, diversions, and cancellations. Supadio International Airport in Pontianak was among the hardest hit, with at least 21 morning flights delayed between 18 and 21 August 2026 as smoke reduced visibility below 1,000 meters on multiple occasions, affecting routes to Jakarta, Surabaya, and Ketapang. One Jakarta-bound flight executed a go-around due to poor visibility and diverted to Batam, though outright cancellations at Supadio remained limited.

At Singkawang Airport, all flights were temporarily cancelled after smoke and haze pushed visibility beyond safe landing and take-off limits. In East Kalimantan, Melalan Airport in Melak reported delays of up to approximately 90 minutes on morning and late-afternoon departures, while Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto Airport in Samarinda operated normally through 21 August with no smoke-related visibility issues.

Indonesia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued guidance on 21 August noting that operations may be delayed, diverted, or cancelled when reported visibility falls below prescribed minimums, and said it is working with airport operators, air navigation services, and meteorological agencies to monitor smoke plume movements. The Indonesian Transport Ministry confirmed it is monitoring several Kalimantan airports for smoke-related impacts and warned additional measures could follow if fire activity intensifies or winds shift.