Ministry of Transportation Records Significant Surge in 2026 Eid Exodus: 6.2 Million People Already Using Public Transport

The Eid al-Fitr travel flow for 2026 is showing a significant surge. The latest data from the Integrated Eid Transport Command Post 2026/1447 H, released by the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), records that millions of people have begun their journeys home to their hometowns using public transport.

Cumulatively from 13 March 2026 (H-8) to 17 March 2026 (H-4), the number of public transport passengers departing for Eid travel reached 6,251,806 people. This figure represents a 10.98% increase compared to the same period in the 2025 Eid Transport, which recorded 5,633,141 passengers.

The surge in traveller movement is evident across nearly all modes of transport. Rail transport has the highest increase this Eid season. Kemenhub data shows the number of rail passengers reached 1,863,782 people, up 15.67% from 1,611,291 passengers last year. Meanwhile, air transport also recorded growth with a total of 1,424,872 passengers, an 8.14% rise from 1,317,557 passengers in the same period last year.

Increases also occurred in other modes of transport. Sea transport served 527,535 passengers, up 10.50% from 477,418 passengers in 2025. Ferry transport reached 1,511,072 people, a 11.27% increase compared to 1,358,016 passengers last year.

Land or road transport recorded 924,545 passengers, up 6.41% from 868,839 people in the same period the previous year. Head of the Bureau of Communication and Public Information at Kemenhub, Ernita Titis Dewi, stated that this upward trend indicates that the public is starting to utilise time earlier for Eid travel.

“This upward trend shows that the public has undertaken Eid travel earlier, taking advantage of the work from anywhere (WFA) policy as well as collective leave,” said Titis, quoted by Kemenhub.

She explained that the increase in mobility is also influenced by the momentum of the collective leave for Nyepi Day, which begins on 18 March 2026. This condition has led some people to choose to depart earlier for a more comfortable journey.

Kemenhub is also paying special attention to several points that have the potential for congestion, particularly Gilimanuk Port and I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, whose operations will be temporarily halted during the Nyepi celebrations.

In addition to monitoring the number of passengers, Kemenhub also recorded the on-time performance (OTP) levels for various modes of transport on 17 March 2026 (H-4).