For Two Consecutive Days of the Long Weekend, KAI Serves More Than 196,000 Customers per Day
The atmosphere of the Ascension Day long weekend began to be felt across various railway stations starting Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Departures were dominated by intercity travel to tourist destinations, as well as major economic and educational centers across Java.
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded that during the first two days of the long weekend departure period, the number of customers consistently exceeded 196,000 per day. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, KAI served 196,370 customers, increasing to 197,333 customers on Thursday, May 14, 2026. In total, during the first two days of departures, KAI served 393,703 customers on both Long-Distance and Local Train services operated by KAI.
As of Friday, May 15, 2026, at 10:00 WIB, cumulative KAI ticket sales for the May 13–17, 2026 travel period had reached 778,318 tickets. This figure is expected to continue increasing as ticket sales remain available through the Access by KAI application, station ticket counters, and other official sales channels.
Vice President of Corporate Communication KAI, Anne Purba, stated that the high level of public mobility at the beginning of the long weekend demonstrates that rail transportation remains the preferred choice for medium- and long-distance travel.
“Travel patterns during the long weekend reflect the high level of public mobility toward tourist destinations and regions with vibrant social activities. Trains remain the preferred mode of transportation because they offer a more efficient, comfortable journey with direct connections to various destination cities,” said Anne Purba.
Temporary daily ticket sales occupancy during the long weekend period is as follows:
- Wednesday, May 13, 2026: 196,370 tickets
- Thursday, May 14, 2026: 197,333 tickets
- Friday, May 15, 2026: 124,455 tickets
- Saturday, May 16, 2026: 116,868 tickets
- Sunday, May 17, 2026: 143,292 tickets
KAI also recorded several of the most popular travel routes during the long weekend. Routes to Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, and Surabaya were among the most in demand due to their direct access to tourist attractions, culinary destinations, historical landmarks, and vibrant creative economy hubs that attract large numbers of visitors during holiday periods.
The ten routes with the highest departure volumes during the long weekend are as follows:
1. Yogyakarta – Gambir: 11,410 customers
2. Gambir – Yogyakarta: 10,583 customers
3. Lempuyangan – Pasarsenen: 9,379 customers
4. Semarang Tawang – Gambir: 7,826 customers
5. Bandung – Gambir: 7,669 customers
6. Pasarsenen – Lempuyangan: 7,524 customers
7. Gambir – Semarang Tawang: 7,156 customers
8. Gambir – Bandung: 6,560 customers
9. Yogyakarta – Surabaya Gubeng: 6,138 customers
10. Yogyakarta – Bandung: 5,861 customers
Travel to and from Yogyakarta remained a favorite among customers wishing to visit Malioboro, the Yogyakarta Palace, and various nearby natural attractions. Meanwhile, Bandung continued to attract visitors through its culinary tourism, cool mountain climate, and rapidly growing creative economy. Routes to Semarang were also highly popular due to their connection to the Old Town area, historical attractions, and Central Java's commercial centers.
The increase in customer mobility during the long weekend has also contributed to economic activity across various regions. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), feeder transportation services, accommodation providers, culinary businesses, and local trade have all benefited from the growing volume of intercity rail travel.
KAI encourages customers to arrive at stations earlier, reconfirm their departure schedules, and prepare their travel documents in advance. Customers are also advised to use the Access by KAI application to monitor ticket availability, travel schedules, and service information regularly.
“The public still has various travel options to enjoy the long weekend by train. Customers can check ticket availability through Access by KAI and other official sales channels,” Anne concluded.
VP Corporate Communication KAI