“If the volcano releases a lot of ash, we will issue a message through the Volcano Observatory for Aviation to inform the authorities to reroute flights,” said Jonan at the observatory post of the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) in Cinangka, Banten.

Jonan said volcanic ash had reached a height of between 500 and 700 meters but it had not spread across a large area in the last two days. “Meanwhile, planes fly at a height of between 5,000 and 10,000 meters,” Jonan added as reported by kompas.com.

On Thursday, the Indonesian Flight Navigation Service (Air-Nav) said it had issued a notice to pilots warning not to fly through certain waypoints affected by Anak Krakatau’s eruptions and to take different routes as the spread of volcanic ash reached alert level.

“We need to divert flights from the ash-affected routes,” Air-Nav president director Novie Riyanto told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Jonan said the ministry and PVMBG would let the airport authorities know the latest on the spread of volcanic ash. He added the airport authorities could also carry out a paper test on the spread of the ash before deciding whether airports should be closed or not.

The minister also said the ash had not affected sea transportation but stressed that the safe distance of shipping was 5 kilometers away from Anak Krakatau. “But, so far, there has been no impact on shipping routes,” he added. (bbn)

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