Indonesia’s annual Eid homecoming travel has entered its peak phase, with passenger and vehicle flows surging on the critical Merak–Bakauheni ferry crossing linking Java and Sumatra, operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry said on Thursday.
Traffic data from ports in Merak, Ciwandan and BBJ Bojonegara showed 79,521 passengers crossed between midnight and 0800 local time on March 19, up 20.4% from a year earlier. Vehicle crossings rose 22.2% to 27,157 units over the same period.
The spike underscores intensifying mobility ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, with the route serving as a key barometer of the country’s annual “mudik” exodus.
ASDP President Director Heru Widodo said traffic had been at peak levels since March 17 and was expected to remain elevated through Thursday.
“This increase in mobility reflects the peak of the homecoming flow. We are strengthening operations and coordination to ensure services remain safe and smooth,” he said.
A sharper surge was recorded on March 18, when crossings reached 163,603 passengers and 44,440 vehicles, up markedly from 104,321 passengers and 27,527 vehicles the previous day.
To manage congestion, ASDP is deploying between 28 and 33 vessels daily on the route, adjusting capacity in line with demand. Authorities are also implementing traffic diversions to alternative ports, delay systems at buffer zones, and closer coordination with transport and security agencies.
Operational efficiency has been boosted through an arrival–unloading–departure cycle, allowing vessels to minimise docking times and increase turnaround frequency.
Corporate Secretary Windy Andale urged travellers to plan ahead by purchasing tickets before arriving at ports and ensuring their travel details are accurate.
Passengers using the Ferizy ticketing platform can reschedule trips at a discount or request partial refunds under certain conditions, she added.
Cumulative data from March 10 to March 18 showed 711,052 passengers had crossed from Java to Sumatra, up 3.5% year-on-year, while vehicle traffic rose 9.3% to 190,479 units.
In the opposite direction, 348,766 passengers and 72,696 vehicles travelled from Sumatra to Java, increases of 2.9% and 8.9% respectively.
Despite the surge, ASDP said ferry operations remained orderly, supported by expanded capacity and coordinated traffic management, as millions of Indonesians travel home for the holiday.