Haze Blankets Palu as Air Quality Turns Very Unhealthy; Airport Flights Normal

Air quality in Palu, Central Sulawesi, has deteriorated to the "very unhealthy" category as haze from forest and land fires blankets the city, though flight operations at Mutiara Sis Aljufri International Airport remain unaffected. Airport head Prasetyohadi said Monday that the full flight schedule was still running normally, with runway visibility holding above 3.5 kilometers — the minimum threshold required for jet aircraft.

According to Prasetyohadi, turboprop aircraft such as the ATR require visibility above 2 kilometers to land or take off, meaning conditions are comfortably within safe operating limits. Airport managers are coordinating closely with airlines to monitor visibility and wind movement as the haze persists.

He also addressed reports of delays on a route from Balikpapan to Palu, saying the disruption was not caused by weather in Palu. If haze were responsible, the impact would most likely have occurred at the departure airport rather than in Palu, he said, adding that conditions at the Central Sulawesi airport remain smooth and safe.

The health picture is more concerning. Data from the Lore Lindu Bariri Global Atmosphere Watch station run by Indonesia's meteorology agency BMKG showed fine particulate matter PM2.5 reaching 179 micrograms per cubic meter on Monday — a level classified as very unhealthy. Asep Firman Ilahi, head of the SPAG Lore Lindu Bariri-Poso station, said concentrations of larger PM10 particles also hit 174 micrograms per cubic meter, placing that measure in the unhealthy category.

The station attributed the decline to smoke drifting from several areas of Central Sulawesi, cross-regional haze movement, and low rainfall during the dry season. Kompas.com reported that the haze has gripped the region from early August through October 2026, with local schools previously required to have students wear masks as a precaution.

The airport's normal operations contrast with conditions elsewhere on the island, where haze has disrupted daily life. Kompas.com reported separately that air quality in Balikpapan was also unhealthy due to fire haze, prompting the city government to consider remote schooling. Airport authorities said they will keep monitoring visibility and coordinating with carriers as the dry season continues.