AHY Forecasts Peak Lebaran Exodus and Return Periods on These Dates
Jakarta — Infrastructure Coordinating Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has announced that 143.9 million people are expected to travel during the Lebaran holiday season. The peak movement periods are projected to occur in mid and late March.
“Based on simulations conducted by the Transportation Ministry against previous Lebaran statistics, the peak exodus is estimated to fall on 14 and 15 March. The second peak exodus period is projected for 18 and 19 March,” AHY said at the Presidential Staff Office on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
The primary destinations for travellers are Central Java, East Java, West Java, Yogyakarta, and South Sulawesi.
Regarding the return journey after Lebaran, the peak is expected on 24-25 March, with a second peak on 28-29 March.
Consequently, the government has implemented a work-from-anywhere (WFA) programme to ease congestion and allow citizens to adjust their departure dates away from the peak exodus periods.
“The details will be explained further by the Human Development and Culture Coordinating Minister. Essentially, previous congestion-relief policies of this nature have proven effective in reducing extreme traffic congestion,” AHY stated.
Flexible Working Arrangements
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno explained that the government has decided on flexible working arrangements to distribute migrant movement. This decision was made because the peak exodus on 14-15 March coincides with the weekend.
The government has therefore scheduled flexible working arrangements for 16-17 March and 25, 26, 27 March following Lebaran.
“The 14th falls on a weekend, Sunday the 15th is a weekend. The government has then decided on flexible working arrangements on the 16th and 17th. The 18th is a joint public holiday,” Pratikno said.
“This also coincides with the national religious holiday of Nyepi. That falls on the 19th, then Eid al-Fitr is on the 20th, 21st, 22nd respectively. This is then followed by another joint public holiday the following week on 23rd and 24th March. After Lebaran, flexible working arrangements resume on 25th Wednesday, 26th Thursday, and 27th Friday,” he added.
Pratikno stated that the flexible working arrangements are expected to distribute migrants so they do not accumulate at a single point in time.