El Tari Kupang Airport Forecast to Serve 53,763 Passengers During Eid Holiday Period
El Tari Kupang Airport, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), is forecast to serve 53,763 passengers during the Eid holiday travel period in 2026. The peak exodus at El Tari Airport is expected to occur on 18 March.
“During the 18-day Eid holiday transport command post period in 2026, El Tari Kupang International Airport projects it will serve 53,763 passengers,” said General Manager of El Tari Kupang International Airport Teguh Darmawan Saiman on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Teguh projected that the number of passengers served by El Tari Airport during the peak departure period would reach 3,450 people. Meanwhile, the peak return journey is forecast to occur on 28 March 2026 (six days after Eid) with 3,819 passengers.
The airport management has undertaken several preparations to support public mobility during the 2026 Eid period, including conducting ramp checks to ensure the serviceability of operational vehicles at the airport.
“These preparations include adjusting airport operating hours, optimising airside and landside facilities, enhancing aviation security and safety surveillance, and strengthening coordination with airlines, the military and police, AirNav Indonesia, and other relevant agencies,” said Teguh.
“We want to ensure that all facilities, personnel, and operational procedures are in a state of readiness to support the smooth flow of departures and returns during Eid,” he added.
El Tari Kupang Airport activated the Unified Eid Holiday Transport Command Post for 1447 Hijri/2026 for 18 days until 30 March 2026. This command post serves as the coordination centre, monitoring aircraft and passenger movements, and accelerating response procedures in the event of emergency conditions or operational disruptions.
“A total of 72 personnel have been deployed for the command post operation, consisting of 45 internal personnel from El Tari Kupang Airport and 27 external personnel from the military and police, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, and the Port Health Office,” he concluded.
Head of Operations for El Tari Kupang Air Force Base, Colonel Pas Sulistyo Utomo, explained that securing vital national infrastructure such as airports falls within the purview of the Indonesian Air Force. Twenty-five Air Force personnel have been assigned to the Eid Holiday Transport Command Post at El Tari Kupang Airport.
“National vital infrastructure such as this airport is the responsibility of the Indonesian Air Force,” said Sulistyo.