Jakarta, ThedailyID — Flights at H Asan Sampit Airport in Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, remain suspended due to haze from forest and land fires. The airport has been closed since September 22, 2026, with no normal flight operations as of October 14.
Low visibility has made it unsafe for aircraft to operate. Data from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) shows morning visibility ranging from 500 to 800 meters. Conditions can deteriorate further from midday to late afternoon.
Raihansyah, head of the Kotawaringin Timur Transportation Agency, said the airport would remain completely closed throughout October. He stressed that passenger and crew safety remains the priority.
“H Asan Sampit Airport is completely closed throughout October,” Raihansyah said on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
He explained that visibility can drop below 100 meters in the afternoon. Meanwhile, aircraft generally require visibility of around 2,000 meters or more to operate safely under the applicable requirements.
As a result, planes cannot land safely at Sampit Airport under current conditions. However, authorities have not confirmed when flights might resume. The decision will depend on improvements in weather and visibility.
Raihansyah suspects the haze comes from more than fires near urban areas. Smoke from other regions may have drifted toward Sampit, even as fires at several locations around the city began to subside.
The prolonged closure has also disrupted residents’ travel plans. People who need to travel quickly to other regions must now rely on longer road journeys. Some travelers are heading to Banjarmasin, which takes around nine hours by road, to access air transportation.
Furthermore, the suspension has affected business activities. Businesspeople and investors who rely on flights for travel must adjust their schedules and arrangements.
The continued disruption highlights the wider impact of Indonesia’s forest and land fires. Beyond affecting air quality, the haze has restricted transportation and created challenges for residents and the local economy.
