eruption of Indonesia\u2019s Mount Anak Krakatau,<\/span><\/a> resulted in hundreds of flights being cancelled or suspended, and affected many more passengers.<\/p>\nAnak Krakatau began erupting late on Sept 4, spewing volcanic ash as far as Bandung, 150km south-east of Jakarta. At least five airports in Indonesia suspended flight operations on Sept 6.<\/p>\n
In Singapore, flights operated by SIA and Scoot from Changi Airport to Jakarta were cancelled early in the day. Other carriers such as Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air were also affected.<\/p>\n
Zafran said he and his family were trying to work out alternative travel arrangements, adding that he had already scheduled an appointment with Singapore\u2019s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for his student pass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very stressful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His mother Nana, 47, said the family was considering seeking a refund for their flight and returning to their home in Semarang.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An alternative was to fly to Batam and take a ferry from there to Singapore.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n![\"Zafran](\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/20902c1bb2cd4d13812e7de90890a752f759c872703f0dcb6c46506aa79de749\")
<\/picture><\/div>\nZafran Aiman Kamil (centre), his mother Nana and older brother Hafiz were set to visit Singapore for the commencement of Zafran\u2019s studies at SUTD when their Singapore Airlines flight was cancelled due to the Anak Krakatau eruption.<\/p>\n
ST PHOTO: KARINA TEHUSIJARANA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cHopefully, everything will work out,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was more hectic than usual on the morning of Sept 6 as thousands of travellers awaited news of how their flights would be affected by the eruption.<\/p>\n
The benches in Terminal 3, the airport\u2019s main international terminal, were fully occupied, with many travellers sitting on the floor as they contacted their family and friends about their predicament.<\/p>\n
Among them was Singaporean Megawati, 55, who had travelled to Indonesia with her husband to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their SIA flight home was originally scheduled to depart at 8pm on Sept 5, before being rescheduled to 8am on Sept 6, and then again to 1.45pm.\u00a0It was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n![\"Passengers](\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/9cff3dbc785c2f56072a1e0e9fb2580194b4ba28dc78d1bd68e826bfe4e0723b\")
<\/picture><\/div>\nPassengers lining up at the Scoot counters at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sept 6 to reschedule flights cancelled due to the Anak Krakatau eruption.<\/p>\n
ST PHOTO: KARINA TEHUSIJARANA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cWhen we arrived at the airport, (SIA staff) told us that the flight would probably be rescheduled in two to three days,\u201d the housewife, who declined to give her last name, said, adding that her husband was trying to arrange new flights.<\/p>\n
The couple plan to stay at a hotel near the airport in Jakarta once they are more certain about when they can leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI joked to my husband that this is the most expensive anniversary we have had,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cBecause now, we have to extend, and the hotel rates have gone up a lot because everyone is stranded here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n