Kalimantan Forest Fire Haze Delays 73 Flights at Supadio Airport

Thick Haze Disrupts Air Travel at Supadio International Airport

Tempatdonasi.com – Dense haze linked to forest fires in Kalimantan has severely limited visibility at Supadio International Airport, forcing airlines to delay or revise dozens of scheduled services. Over a three-day period beginning Saturday, September 12, a total of 73 arriving and departing flights were affected by delays or rescheduling.

Conditions remained difficult on Monday morning, September 14, 2026, when visibility at the airport in Sungai Raya stood at roughly 300 meters until 10 a.m. The restricted view prevented aircraft from departing as planned, leaving passengers and airlines waiting for conditions to improve.

“Based on the schedule, several airlines were supposed to depart this morning, but due to the visibility condition, which was only 300 meters until 10:00 AM, no flights have taken off,” said M. Joko Wahyudi, Branch Communication & CSR Department Head at Supadio International Airport.

Disruptions Have Continued Since Saturday

Airport officials said the visibility problem has persisted since Saturday, affecting operations throughout the weekend and into Monday. While some services were able to proceed, the number of flights operating was sharply constrained by the haze.

On Saturday, only 11 flights operated at Supadio Airport: six arrivals and five departures. The following day, Sunday, September 13, nine flights were conducted, consisting of five incoming flights and four departures. Dozens of other scheduled services were cancelled on Saturday as visibility fell to unsafe levels.

“The limited visibility condition has been occurring since Saturday (9/12). During this period, a total of 73 flights to and from Supadio Airport were affected by delays or rescheduling,” Joko said.

By Monday, airport authorities were still waiting for individual airlines to confirm whether flights would be cancelled outright or moved to different times. That uncertainty can make travel especially difficult for passengers with onward connections, time-sensitive plans, or arrangements to collect family members and colleagues at the airport.

Airport operations during haze depend on whether visibility meets the safety requirements needed for a particular flight. Even where an aircraft is ready and a route is scheduled, a departure or arrival cannot proceed if conditions do not permit safe operation. Supadio authorities emphasized that passenger and flight safety remained the decisive factor in handling the disruption.

Passenger Services Increased During Delays

Supadio International Airport has increased staffing in the check-in zone and passenger waiting areas to help travelers affected by altered schedules. The additional personnel are intended to assist passengers as airlines issue updates and revise their operating plans.

Yakobus Thomry Toto, the airport’s Airport Quality & SMS Department Head, said the airport is also providing basic support to passengers facing extended waits.

“In addition, we also distribute masks, snacks, and water to service users affected by flight delays,” he said.

The distribution of masks is particularly relevant while haze continues to affect the surrounding area. Passengers spending time in public airport spaces may need practical information about their flight status as well as support while they wait for airlines to make operational decisions.

For travelers, a delay or rescheduling notice does not always mean that a flight will be cancelled. Airlines may wait for updated weather and visibility conditions before deciding whether to operate later in the day, move passengers to another service, or cancel a route. Passengers are therefore likely to benefit from monitoring airline notifications and airport announcements closely during periods of reduced visibility.

Coordination Aims to Speed Up Flight Updates

The airport has expanded its communication efforts through information boards and coordinated decision-making among airlines, AirNav Indonesia, and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG. This process, called Airport Collaborative Decision Making, is intended to speed up the sharing of operational information when weather conditions affect aviation activity.

Prompt coordination is important when visibility changes quickly. Airlines need current information to determine whether aircraft can depart, arrive, wait, or be rescheduled. Airport operators and air navigation personnel must also align their decisions with safety conditions at the airfield.

Officials expect the coordination process to help airlines provide earlier notices to passengers whose flights may be delayed or moved because of haze. Clear and timely updates can reduce confusion in check-in areas and waiting rooms, particularly when many services are affected at once.

The disruption at Supadio illustrates how forest-fire haze can extend beyond air quality concerns and affect transport links across Kalimantan. Flights connect passengers, workers, and goods between the region and other destinations, so prolonged visibility restrictions can create knock-on changes to travel plans even after weather conditions begin to improve.

As of Monday, the immediate outlook for scheduled flights depended on airline decisions and visibility at the airport. Travelers using Supadio International Airport were advised through airport information channels to remain alert for changes to departure times, arrival schedules, cancellations, and rebooking arrangements.