World · Malaysia Bureau
Six Penang flights cancelled as Jakarta airport closure disrupts regional travel
Airlines operating from Penang International Airport have cancelled six flights following the closure of Jakarta's main airport. State officials report that advance passenger notifications prevented congestion at the airport terminal.
LSN Malaysia ·
Six flights from Penang International Airport were cancelled on Tuesday following the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, disrupting travel between Malaysia and Indonesia.
The cancellations affected services operated by several airlines serving the Jakarta route. A Penang state executive councillor noted that the impact on airport operations remained manageable, with airlines providing early notification to affected passengers before they travelled to the terminal.
"Passengers received announcements in advance from the airlines, so there was no extraordinary congestion at the airport," the councillor said, indicating that the advance warning system helped mitigate disruptions at Penang's facility.
The Jakarta airport closure, which affected multiple regional carriers, highlighted the interconnected nature of Southeast Asia's aviation network. Airlines typically issue cancellations and rebooking information several hours before scheduled departures when faced with airport closures or operational constraints at destination airports.
Penang International Airport authorities and airlines continued to monitor the situation, with services expected to resume once normal operations resumed at Jakarta's airport.