Lebaran: KAI Bandara Prepares 361,000 Seats

To anticipate high mobility among the public during the upcoming mudik period, KAI Bandara is preparing 361,000 seats specifically for North Sumatra. The Lebaran transport period runs from 11 March to 1 April 2026.

KAI Bandara will operate 44 services daily to ensure smooth flow of outbound and return trips, particularly in the Medan area and its surroundings. This includes 239,000 seats aboard the Srilelawangsa rail service on the Medan–Binjai–Kualanamu route and 122,000 seats on the Medan–Kualanamu route.

Porwanto Handry Nugroho, Chief Executive Officer of KAI Bandara, said the capacity increase is a strategic step to maintain connectivity and mobility stability, noting that North Sumatra is among the regions with high movement during Lebaran.

“By preparing 361,000 seats and 44 services per day, we ensure the public has safe, comfortable and timely transport, whether travelling to city centres or to Bandara Kualanamu,” he said in a written statement on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

According to Porwanto, rail-based transport has large capacity and better energy efficiency than private vehicles. This service not only supports smooth Lebaran travel but also helps reduce traffic congestion and cut carbon emissions.

KAI Bandara also ensures readiness of facilities, infrastructure, and human resources to maintain safety and service standards. Passengers are urged to keep belongings secure and to arrive earlier at the station—at least three hours before international flights and two hours before domestic flights.

“We have arranged a lost-and-found service for items found by staff,” he said.

RailLink, which operates the Srilelawangsa airport train in Medan, as part of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) programme in North Sumatra, recorded positive performance throughout January 2026. Total passengers reached 358,000, up from 357,000 in the same period a year earlier.

The Medan–Kualanamu route recorded 137,000 passengers. The Medan–Binjai route carried 220,000 passengers. Steady passenger volumes show that trains are not only the main option for reaching the airport but have become an essential part of public transport for residents of Medan and surrounding areas.

“Passenger growth reflects increasing public confidence in the service. KAI Bandara will continue to improve service quality through operational strengthening, the use of digital technology, and intermodal integration to facilitate easier access to transport for the public,” Porwanto said.