Eid Return Flow 2026: 500,000 Train Tickets Still Available

Vice President of Corporate Communication at KAI, Anne Purba, stated that the trend of train travel continues to rise as the Eid return flow begins in 2026. There are still 500,000 tickets available for the public to purchase.

She explained that as of 22 March 2026 at 10:00 WIB, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded 3,910,868 tickets sold, or 86.9% of the total 4,498,696 seats provided for long-distance and local train journeys from 11 March to 1 April 2026.

With this achievement, 587,828 seats remain available for the public to utilise during the return flow.

“Entering the return flow phase, the public is utilising trains because they are more comfortable and scheduled. For long-distance train services, ticket sales have reached 3,433,667 tickets or 96.1% of the total 3,571,760 seats provided. This means there are still 138,093 seats that can be booked by the public for return flow journeys,” Anne said in a statement received on Sunday (22/3).

Meanwhile, for local train services managed by KAI, ticket sales were recorded at 477,201 tickets or 51.5% of the total 926,936 available seats. Thus, 449,735 seats are still available for customers.

Anne noted that local train ticket sales generally continue to increase closer to the departure date, as most services can only be booked from H-7.

During the Eid homecoming transport period, from 11 to 21 March 2026, KAI served 1,888,827 long-distance train passengers and 337,713 local train passengers in Java and Sumatra, totalling 2,226,540 passengers.

Along with this increase, the daily passenger volume and occupancy rate for long-distance trains from 11-21 March 2026 showed a continuously rising trend.

Entering 22 March 2026, passenger movements were observed to be very high. By morning, at least 221,566 long-distance train passengers were scheduled to depart with a temporary occupancy rate of 137.5%.

“This number still has the potential to increase along with ongoing ticket sales. Occupancy rates above 100% are possible due to dynamic travel patterns in one train set,” Anne said.

“In one long-distance train journey, one seat can be used by more than one passenger on different routes. This scheme allows the number of passengers served to be greater than the number of available seats in one journey route,” she explained.

Amid this high demand, several trains with high booking rates during the 2026 Eid transport period include KA Airlangga, KA Joglosemarkerto, KA Sri Tanjung, KA Bengawan, KA Kahuripan, KA Rajabasa, and KA Jayakarta.

Nevertheless, the public still has opportunities to obtain tickets, especially for the return flow, through alternative routes, different departure schedules, or onward travel schemes.

KAI also urges customers to utilise connecting train services and choose more flexible travel dates to increase their chances of securing tickets.

“With the remaining capacity available, KAI invites the public to plan their return flow journeys promptly so that the trip is more comfortable, smooth, and enjoyable by train,” Anne concluded. (H-4)

The peak of the return flow in Daop 6 Yogyakarta is starting to be seen tomorrow or 23 March 2026, according to the Manager of Public Relations for KAI Daop 6 Yogyakarta, Feni Novida Saragih.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) urges all customers to be more careful in safeguarding their luggage during the homecoming journey.

KAI also informs that discounted tickets with a 30% fare reduction are still available for departures from 20–29 March 2026.

Train ticket sales during the Eid transport period also show an increasing trend. As of Sunday (15/3) afternoon or H-6 Eid, 214,624 tickets had been sold.

At Pasar Senen Station on Sunday (15/3) night, queues of passengers were seen snaking in the ticket inspection area and platform entrance.

Plans for Eid homecoming sometimes have to change due to sudden matters.

As of 10 March 2026 at 10:00 WIB, 2,483,689 tickets had been sold or 55.2% occupancy from the total 4,498,696 seats.

KAI Daop 4 Semarang in Central Java prepares 83,970 train seats for early departures from Daop 4 stations ahead of Chinese New Year.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Persero announced a 30% discount on train ticket fares, which will go on sale this afternoon, Tuesday (10/2).