Peak Lebaran Exodus at Juanda Airport Expected to Exceed 50,000 Passengers on 18 March
Juanda International Airport management in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, has begun mapping passenger movements ahead of this year’s Lebaran holiday exodus season. The peak outbound traffic is predicted to occur on H-3 (three days before) Lebaran, specifically on 18 March, with an estimated 50,888 passengers.
Meanwhile, return traffic is projected to reach its peak on H+7 (seven days after) or 29 March. The number of passengers on H+7 is estimated to reach 51,461 people.
“We hope that our predictions will be realised and service will continue to operate optimally,” said Juanda Airport General Manager Muhammad Tohir on Friday (13 March).
Tohir explained that overall passenger volume during this Lebaran holiday period shows only a marginal increase compared to the previous year, with an estimated rise of 0.14% compared to the same period in 2025.
This increase is driven by several supporting factors, including the extended holiday duration and the series of Lebaran holidays preceded by Nyepi (Balinese New Year). The government’s Work From Anywhere (WFA) programme, which facilitates earlier population mobility, has also contributed to this trend. The public is not only taking advantage of the time to return home, but also to holiday.
Given the high level of passenger movement, the airport has taken measures to anticipate congestion in the terminal area. Tohir is optimistic that with careful preparations, the surge in passengers can be well accommodated.
“Given that this Lebaran holiday is quite lengthy, many people are using this opportunity both to return home and to take holidays,” said Tohir.
To mark the celebration of Eid al-Fitr 1446 Hijri, Juanda International Airport has formally opened an Air Transport Command Post in the lobbies of Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2) on Friday (13 March). The command post was established to assist airport staff in monitoring outbound and return traffic during the Lebaran holiday period, which runs from 13-30 March 2026.
“Starting today, the command posts in both T1 and T2 are officially open and operational with their respective personnel. Like in previous years, this command post is a mandatory and routine agenda undertaken whenever facing extended Lebaran holidays. This command post is expected to control and create safe, secure, comfortable, orderly, smooth and regular air transport operations whilst meeting aviation safety procedure requirements, and also function as an information and data centre as well as a passenger service area,” said Tohir.
The East Java Provincial Transportation Office predicts that 24.9 million exodus travellers will head to East Java during the upcoming Lebaran holiday period.
Work From Anywhere (WFA) or flexible working arrangements will be applied during the Lebaran exodus period from 13 March to 29 March 2026 to reduce traffic congestion during the outbound travel rush.
The Chair of Commission V of the Indonesian Parliament emphasised the importance of infrastructure readiness ahead of the outbound and return traffic surge during Lebaran 2026, particularly in Central Java, which serves as the main national transit route.
The Banten Governor and Deputy Governor inspected the readiness of Merak Port for the 2026 Lebaran exodus, reviewing strategies to alleviate congestion and alternative ports.
The Jakarta Metro Police have issued stern warnings to those planning to travel by motorcycle during the 2026 Lebaran exodus.
Toll Road Section II Rangkasbitung-Cileles is now open with zero tariff, which will be operational during the Lebaran outbound and return traffic periods in 2026. Throughout this period, the toll will operate daily from 06.00 WIB to 18.00 WIB.
The West Java Provincial Government has begun disbursing compensation totalling Rp6.9 billion to approximately 3,000 minibus drivers, becak (three-wheeled rickshaw) operators, and andong (traditional horse cart) drivers.