Nearly Sold Out: KAI Ticket Sales Reach 4.3 Million During 2026 Eid Holiday

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) has recorded a continuous increase in ticket sales for the 2026 Eid holiday transport, entering the return flow phase. As of 25 March 2026 at 10:00 WIB, tickets sold reached 4,342,343, or 96.5% of the total 4,498,696 seats provided during the period from 11 March to 1 April, or during the 2026 Eid holiday. Vice President (VP) Corporate Communication KAI Anne Purba stated that this trend indicates a shift in public travel patterns that are increasingly planned. “Travel by train has continued to rise since mid-March and is now entering the return flow phase. Trains are chosen because they are comfortable, on schedule, and provide travel certainty,” she said in an official statement on Wednesday (25/3). For long-distance train services, ticket sales have reached 3,713,781, or 104% of the total capacity of 3,571,760 seats. Meanwhile, local train ticket sales amount to 628,562 tickets, or 67.8% of the total 926,936 seats. Anne explained that seat availability is still open, particularly on certain routes that are not fully utilised by customers. During the period from 11 to 24 March 2026, KAI has served 3,125,958 customers in Java and Sumatra, consisting of 2,629,334 long-distance train customers and 496,624 local train customers. Anne added that a surge in customer movement was clearly evident in the last three days. On 22 March, 242,773 customers were recorded with 150.7% occupancy. Then, it increased on 23 March to 247,025 customers with 154.1% occupancy. “And it rose again on 24 March to 250,616 customers with 153.3% occupancy,” said Anne. Entering 25 March 2026, the trend continues. Until the morning, 205,975 long-distance train customers have been scheduled to depart with temporary occupancy reaching 126%, and this number is still moving as sales continue. With the increasing return flow movement, seat availability on several trips can still be utilised by choosing alternative dates and routes. On this occasion, KAI is presenting the Silaturahmi Promo programme in the form of a 20% ticket discount for executive class trains valid for purchases and departures from 25 March to 1 April 2026, so that the public still has the opportunity to return home and reconnect with affordable fares. Anne explained that occupancy rates above 100% are common in long-distance train operations. “In one trip, one seat can be used by more than one customer on different routes. This scheme allows the number of customers served to exceed the available seat capacity,” Anne clarified. Several trains with high booking rates during the Eid period include KA Airlangga, KA Joglosemarkerto, KA Sri Tanjung, KA Bengawan, KA Kahuripan, KA Rajabasa, and KA Jayakarta, which are popular choices for medium to long-distance travel.