PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com – Airlines canceled 30 flights arriving at and departing from Supadio International Airport in West Kalimantan on Saturday, September 12. This happened after thick wildfire haze reduced visibility to between 300 and 500 meters.

The cancellations affected 15 departures and 15 arrivals between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. WIB. However, authorities had not announced a complete closure of the airport. As a result, flight operators continued to assess individual services based on safety conditions.

“Visibility around Supadio International Airport in Pontianak remained between 300 and 500 meters from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. As of this update, 30 flights—15 departures and 15 arrivals—to and from Supadio International Airport have been canceled,” Supadio International Airport General Manager Maya Damayanti said on September 12.

Smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla) has disrupted daily life across parts of West Kalimantan. Poor visibility has also created operational risks for aircraft during takeoff and landing.

Lion Group previously explained that rapidly changing visibility could force airlines to delay or cancel flights. This may happen when conditions fall below safe operating requirements.

The carrier said airlines assess actual visibility, weather conditions, and other operational factors before making flight decisions.

Lion Group’s official guidance also allows affected passengers to seek alternative flights or refunds under applicable procedures.

Supadio Airport coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), AirNav Indonesia, and airlines throughout Saturday. This helped manage the disruption and assist stranded passengers.

“We added seats in the waiting area and deployed more operational personnel in the field. We also provided service recovery by distributing masks, bottled water, and snacks to affected passengers in the departure lounge,” Maya said.

Airlines processed refund and rescheduling requests through their respective check-in counters and customer service desks at the terminal.

Passengers should contact their airlines directly because carriers manage ticket changes and compensation.

The disruption came as Pontianak continued to record hazardous air pollution. Moreover, an IQAir reading captured at 7 p.m. showed an AQI+ level of 781. The reading also showed a PM2.5 concentration of 466.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

“We urge airlines to provide prospective passengers with the latest flight-status information promptly. Passengers should also check their flight status through the airlines’ official communication channels,” Maya said.

Travelers scheduled to fly through Supadio should confirm their flight before leaving for the airport. Additionally, they should use official airline channels for refund or rescheduling arrangements.