All flights at Singkawang Airport in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province were cancelled on Saturday after thick haze from forest and land fires reduced visibility and disrupted aviation operations.
Airport authorities said the decision was made on safety grounds, with affected travellers advised to contact their respective airlines for further information. Singkawang Airport, which handles domestic flights, is located about 145 kilometres north of Pontianak.
The cancellations come as authorities continue to monitor deteriorating haze conditions across Kalimantan. Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said flights may be delayed, diverted or cancelled whenever visibility drops below the minimum level required for safe operations. Haze caused by widespread fires can significantly affect aviation by reducing pilots’ visibility during take-off and landing.
Satellite data recorded 126 high-confidence hotspots across Kalimantan as of 9.30pm on Friday. Central Kalimantan accounted for 56 hotspots, while 51 were detected in West Kalimantan and another 19 in South Kalimantan.
The fires have also taken a toll on air quality. Monitoring by Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency showed that some areas in West and Central Kalimantan were experiencing very unhealthy air conditions.
Efforts to contain the fires are continuing on the ground and from the air, including water-bombing operations. Authorities have also prepared weather modification operations, which will be conducted when suitable cloud conditions allow.
At the same time, authorities are investigating those suspected of being responsible for forest and land fires. Local media reported that Central Kalimantan police had identified about 12 suspects in connection with such cases as of mid-August.
With haze already affecting both air quality and transportation, firefighting and prevention efforts remain crucial to stopping conditions from deteriorating further across the affected areas.
