Minister of Transportation prepares additional flights for the 2026 Eid al-Fitr travel period

Palembang (ANTARA) - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi said that his ministry is preparing measures to add flights during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transportation period to anticipate a surge in demand, including in South Sumatra.

Menhub Dudy, when interviewed in Palembang on Wednesday, said that his ministry would immediately hold a meeting with all national airlines to discuss fleet readiness and the possibility of increasing flight frequencies (extra flights) at several airports experiencing increased demand.

“We see a trend of increasing air passenger demand. Therefore, we feel the need to formulate additional flights during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transportation period,” he said.

Based on a survey by the Ministry of Transportation, air transportation is among the top 10 choices of the public during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr holiday. Nationally, the number of air passengers is estimated to reach 4.98 million people.

In addition to the air sector, the Ministry of Transportation is also ensuring the readiness of land transportation infrastructure in South Sumatra, including road repairs and the control of heavy vehicles.

The operational restrictions on three-axle vehicles will be implemented from March 13-29, 2026, to maintain the smooth flow of national traffic, which is estimated to reach 143 million people.

Meanwhile, the Governor of South Sumatra, Herman Deru, welcomed the plan.

He had previously specifically proposed adding flights to accommodate the high mobility of people coming to and leaving South Sumatra during the Eid homecoming and return flow periods.

“Increased flight frequencies are not only needed during Eid, but also to support the continuous growth of passenger traffic throughout the year,” he said.