Australian travelers stranded in Jakarta as volcanic ash forces flight cancellations

Liz Kendall has spent three days in a basic Jakarta hotel, watching ash fall from the sky and waiting to learn when she will be able to return home to Australia.

Ms Kendall, who lives in Mount Eliza in Victoria, was due to return to Australia on Saturday evening after a three-week sailing trip.

But her Qantas flight was cancelled after the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau sent volcanic ash across parts of Indonesia on Friday.

"We got the notification that they weren't going to be coming on Saturday, and here we sit," Ms Kendall said.

She said ash has been falling over the city.

Indonesia's main international airport, Soekarno Hatta International, and seven others in the country remain closed.

Indonesia's transport ministry said about 170,000 passengers had been affected by flight cancellations.

"We cannot ascertain when this will end due to the dynamic weather," Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said in a statement.

Qantas has cancelled its services to Jakarta from Melbourne and Sydney due to the volcanic ash.

A spokeswoman said meteorologists and operations teams were "closely monitoring conditions in and around Jakarta" and safety remained its "highest priority".

Ms Kendall said Qantas initially kept her informed by text message, but the updates had since stopped.

"I was on hold for a couple of hours, and they just said they'll be back in touch when flights resume, which might take a while."

A Qantas spokeswoman said multiple emails and text messages had been sent to Ms Kendall since her flight was disrupted.

'Not getting great updates'

Ms Kendall is staying in a Jakarta hotel costing about $47 a night.

"We're struggling with the language and not getting great updates."

Ms Kendall said some members of her group were considering travelling by train to another airport before attempting to fly through Bali, but she has decided to remain in Jakarta.

"If the wind shifts, that's not going to work either," she said.

Indonesia's volcano-monitoring agency said the most recent eruption occurred on Sunday evening and warned that further eruptions remained highly likely.

Ash has reached up to 20,000 feet on the Java side of the volcano and as high as 50,000 feet over Sumatra, according to Indonesian authorities.

Australian flights affected

Qantas operates direct services between Jakarta and Sydney and Melbourne.

The airline said flights QF39, QF40, QF41 and QF42 had been affected by the eruption.

Passengers who booked eligible Jakarta flights on or before September 5 for travel between September 5 and 11 will be offered fee-free refunds, travel credits or date changes.

Qantas said passengers should monitor its flight-status service or app for operational updates.

Singapore Airlines has also cancelled multiple services between Singapore and Jakarta.

Virgin Australia does not operate flights to Jakarta, while Virgin and Jetstar services to Bali have not been affected.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has updated its advice for Indonesia, warning airports in affected areas may close at short notice.

Australians have been advised to monitor their flight status and check directly with their airline or travel provider before heading to the airport.

DFAT has also warned that volcanic ash may affect air quality and advised people with asthma or other respiratory conditions to take extra care.

For Ms Kendall, the wait could also carry a substantial personal cost.

She has a $2,500 ticket to Friday's NFL game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but fears she will not be home in time to attend.

"I doubt it," she said.

"I would have to leave here by Wednesday."

Ms Kendall said she understood why Qantas could not operate in unsafe conditions, but wanted the airline to do one thing.

"The first couple of days were maybe OK, and now it's three days. I might be here a while."