Juanda Airport Predicts Peak Homecoming Rush on 18 March
Juanda International Airport predicts the peak homecoming rush for Lebaran to occur on Wednesday, 18 March, or H-3 (three days before the predicted date of Eid al-Fitr 2026). Approximately 50,888 passengers are estimated to pass through the airport’s terminals on that single day.
The General Manager of Juanda International Airport, Muhammad Tohir, initially projected a total increase in passenger volume of 0.14 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2024.
The convergence of two major religious holidays—Nyepi (Hindu New Year) and Eid al-Fitr—coupled with an extended holiday period and the government’s Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy are viewed as the primary drivers of the increase in travellers heading home.
“During the Lebaran holiday period at Juanda International Airport this year, the total number of passengers is projected to increase by 0.14 per cent compared with the same period in 2024. Considering that this Lebaran break is quite extended and preceded by the Nyepi holiday, plus the government’s WFA programme, many people are expected to use this holiday period either to return home or to take a holiday,” Tohir said on Friday, 14 March.
Tohir stated that the highest congestion is expected to occur twice: at the peak of the homecoming rush on H-3 and at the peak of the return journey on H+7 (seven days after Eid al-Fitr).
“For the predicted peak homecoming rush, passenger numbers are estimated at 50,888 on H-3. And for the predicted peak return rush, passenger numbers are estimated at 51,461 on H+7. We hope our predictions will be realised,” he said.
To manage the surge in passenger numbers, airlines have submitted at least 136 additional flights. Data as of 9 March showed Citilink submitting 76 flights, followed by AirAsia with 26 flights, Lion Air with 24 flights, and Super Airjet with 10 flights.
Additionally, Juanda Airport has officially opened an Air Transport Holiday Command Post for Lebaran 2026 across Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2). This post will be staffed for 18 days to ensure smooth operations amid rising passenger numbers.
The command post’s operations during the homecoming period involve collaboration between the Naval Air Command Security Battalion, the Surabaya Regional Health Quarantine Centre, Region III Airport Authority, Juanda Naval Air Base, Basarnas (Indonesian rescue agency), and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
“This command post is expected to manage and ensure safe, secure, comfortable, orderly, smooth and regular air transport operations whilst meeting the requirements of aviation safety procedures, and to serve as an information and data centre as well as a passenger service area,” Tohir said.
Given the potential for extreme congestion on 18 March, Juanda management has appealed to prospective passengers to arrive at the airport earlier to avoid delays.
“For passenger comfort and to ensure smooth departures, we urge users of Juanda Airport facilities to pay attention to their departure times, especially during the predicted peak homecoming rush, and to arrive earlier for their own comfort,” Tohir said.