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| Balikpapan’s Sepinggan Airport expects 313,170 travelers during the 2026 Lebaran holiday season as mobility around Indonesia’s new capital, IKN, continues to increase. (Illustration Image AI) |
BALIKPAPAN — Growing activity around Indonesia’s new capital project, Nusantara Capital City (IKN), is contributing to a rise in passenger movement ahead of the 2026 Lebaran holiday season.
Management at Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (SAMS) Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan predicts that around 313,170 travelers will pass through the airport during this year’s Lebaran travel period.
General Manager of Angkasa Pura at SAMS Sepinggan Airport, R Iwan Winaya Mahdar, said the projection is based on traffic analysis and increasing mobility in Balikpapan and surrounding areas linked to the IKN development.
“Based on our calculations and analysis, we estimate a total of 313,170 travelers will pass through SAMS Sepinggan International Airport during this year’s Lebaran holiday season,” he said in Balikpapan on Monday.
IKN Workforce Contributes To Holiday Travel Demand
The projected number represents a 2 percent increase compared to the 2025 Lebaran travel period. The growth is closely linked to the presence of thousands of workers in the IKN area.
Currently, an estimated 10,000 people are living or working in the Nusantara capital development zone, including:
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around 7,800 construction workers,
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about 1,170 civil servants from the IKN Authority,
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and other workers living in nearby areas.
Many of them are expected to travel back to their hometowns during the Lebaran holiday, contributing to increased demand for flights departing from Balikpapan.
Some passengers have already booked tickets in advance through Sepinggan Airport, reflecting the early rise in travel demand ahead of the holiday.
Daily Passenger Movement Could Reach 22,000
Based on travel patterns over the past two years, daily passenger traffic during the Lebaran transportation period is expected to reach between 20,000 and 22,000 passengers per day.
These figures follow the peak travel patterns seen during the 2024 and 2025 Eid holiday seasons, when both outbound and return travel surged significantly.
Airport Strengthens Services And Security
To handle the expected increase in passengers, airport management is implementing several operational measures to ensure smooth travel throughout the holiday period.
The preparations include:
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optimizing terminal and apron facilities,
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managing aircraft slot time schedules,
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controlling queues at check-in counters,
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improving baggage handling services,
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and strengthening airport security personnel readiness.
Airport authorities are also reinforcing cross-agency coordination to maintain safe and efficient flight operations during the busy travel season.
“Cross-sector coordination is essential to ensure air transportation remains safe, smooth, and comfortable during periods of increased passenger movement,” Iwan said.
Weather Monitoring During Holiday Travel
As part of operational risk management, airport authorities are also working closely with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Balikpapan.
The collaboration aims to monitor potential extreme weather conditions that could affect flight schedules during the Lebaran travel period.
With these preparations in place, Sepinggan Airport expects to maintain smooth operations despite the anticipated increase in passenger traffic during the 2026 Lebaran holiday season.
