Indonesia's Transportation Ministry assures that international flights continue operating amid Middle East tensions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation denies reports of a full suspension.
Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation has clarified that reports of a complete halt to international flights due to Middle East tensions are untrue. Directorate General of Civil Aviation Director Lukman F. Laisa stated this in a release in Jakarta on Tuesday (March 18, 2026). The ministry is closely monitoring affected international flight operations while ensuring coordinated and safe passenger handling. As of March 17, 2026, at 10:30 WIB, two Qatar Airways aircraft remained stranded in Indonesia: one at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and one at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. With the United Arab Emirates airspace reopening, Emirates has operated limited flights to and from Jakarta and Denpasar. A fuel farm disruption at Dubai International Airport on March 16, 2026, however, caused delays and schedule adjustments. Etihad Airways is running limited flights to Abu Dhabi from Jakarta and Denpasar, planning to increase frequencies. Qatar Airways began repatriation flights on March 8, 2026, and is gradually resuming limited services from Jakarta. Affected passengers, including umrah pilgrims, receive refunds, rescheduling, or rerouting. By March 16, 2026, no Qatar Airways passengers were stranded in Jeddah. Direct flights to Saudi Arabia by Saudi Arabian Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Flyadeal continue normally, unaffected by the conflict.
