May Day holiday travel surges as roads and railways see record demand

Travel during the May Day holiday is set to rise across most transport types. Official forecasts show more people taking to roads, railways, and waterways compared to last year. Only air travel is expected to see a slight decline in passenger numbers. Road trips will lead the increase, with an estimated 315.24 million journeys. This marks a 3.2 percent rise from the same period in 2023. The Ministry of Transport confirmed a 3.4 percent growth in road travel, aligning with broader holiday trends.

Railways will also see a significant boost, handling 24.8 million passenger trips. This represents a 7.3 percent year-on-year increase, making it the fastest-growing transport mode. Waterways follow, with 1.73 million trips forecast—a 4.9 percent rise from last year. Air travel, however, is the exception. Estimates suggest 2.33 million trips, a 0.7 percent drop compared to 2023. Despite this dip, overall passenger movement remains strong. The peak day for travel is expected to surpass 2.4 million journeys in a single day. Inbound and outbound flows will average 2.25 million passengers daily during the holiday. This steady movement reflects continued demand for travel despite minor fluctuations in air numbers.

The May Day holiday will bring busier roads, trains, and waterways, with only air travel seeing a small decrease. Daily passenger flows will remain high, peaking at over 2.4 million on the busiest day. The data highlights a general upward trend in holiday travel across most transport sectors.