Deemed Most Punctual, This Airline Becomes Top Choice for Eid Homecomers in 2026

The Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran) homecoming period represents a crucial moment in Indonesia’s economic landscape, as many people return to their hometowns during this time. Jakpat conducted a survey to understand public perceptions regarding airline choices for the 2026 Lebaran mudik.

This report is based on responses from 338 domestic flight passengers over the past six months who plan to mudik for Lebaran in 2026. All respondents are the primary decision-makers in selecting their airlines.

Although the majority of homecomers (70%) still rely on private vehicles, aeroplanes remain the favourite (61%) for those choosing public transport. Other respondents use public transport modes such as trains (36%) and buses (31%). Jakpat inquired about brand preferences for domestic flights.

The results show that Garuda Indonesia is the most widely recognised, with 87% of respondents aware of it. Of these, 46% have used it in the past six months, and 38% in the past three months. Two other airlines also widely known to the public are Lion Air (86%) and Citilink (81%). During the 2026 Lebaran mudik season, Garuda Indonesia and Citilink are in a tight race as market leaders, both with the same usage percentage of 39%.

In the next positions, the airlines most chosen by homecomers are Lion Air (38%), Batik Air (29%), and AirAsia (21%). For future mudik plans, passenger preferences tend to remain stable. As many as 58% of respondents intend to use Garuda Indonesia for the next Lebaran holiday, followed by Citilink (51%) and Batik Air (43%).

There are several determining factors in choosing airlines for the 2026 Lebaran mudik. As many as 84% of respondents emphasise the importance of safety and security factors. In addition, punctuality (82%) and economical ticket prices (80%) are also primary considerations.

“Punctuality consistently becomes a very important factor for airline users. However, in practice, this is still often not fulfilled, especially evident from the high incidence of flight delays during the Lebaran mudik season,” said Jakpat’s Head of Research, Aska Primardi, quoted from his statement on Friday, 17 April 2026.

Jakpat compared the brand image of three Indonesian airlines based on passenger perceptions of the top three aspects. The results show that Garuda Indonesia leads in schedule punctuality (70%) and safety (49%), while Lion Air dominates the affordable price category (66%).