Hari Raya 2026: AirAsia MOVE reveals how Asean travellers reshape their travel and homecoming journeys

• From shared accommodations to one-way flight bookings, travellers prefer greater flexibility, collective planning and better value

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 March 2026 – As the Hari Raya 2026 period approaches, homecoming journeys and holiday travelling are once again expected to drive one of the largest seasonal movements, especially for over 260 million Muslims across Southeast Asia.

Based on booking patterns for the upcoming Hari Raya travel window from 15–28 March 2026, AirAsia MOVE (MOVE) has identified three emerging trends that highlight how travellers across Asean are reshaping their journey during one of the region’s largest religious celebrations.

1. Travellers makes multiple airline & one-way bookings

The 2026 Raya season is also marked by greater flexibility in how travellers arrange their flights. Rather than relying on a single airline for both legs of the journey, many are combining different carriers for outbound and return travel, while others are securing one-way journeys first and deciding on their return later.

On the MOVE platform, which offers access to over 700 global airlines, a notable number of travellers are combining different airlines for their departure and return journeys during the Raya travel period. At the same time, there are nearly 300,000 seats sold for one-way bookings with both low cost carrier and full-service airlines during the Raya travel window. The trend reflects evolving family plans as well as travellers’ efforts to navigate fluctuating airfares during peak season.

2. Multi-Room Accommodation Gains Popularity

With all the Hari Raya needs spendings and hotel rates commonly surging during the Raya period, cost considerations are reshaping accommodation choices. Travellers journeying with extended families are showing a stronger preference for properties that can host larger groups within a single unit, such as villas, serviced apartments or hotel suites with multiple rooms. Instead of booking rooms separately, families are opting to share a single property, allowing travel costs to be distributed more efficiently across the group.

In the MOVE app, users can easily indicate the number of adults and children when booking hotels or SNAP packages. The platform then automatically recommends suitable accommodation types and adjusts the number of rooms required, making it easier for families to plan their stay.

3. Comfort Remains a Priority, but Spending Is More Measured

Another notable trend points to more deliberate spending decisions without diminishing the importance of the journey itself. Travellers are still returning home or taking holidays, but are making practical adjustments, including choosing more affordable accommodation options.

During the period, the average hotel booking spend on MOVE stands at MYR262 per night, indicating a preference for stays that remain comfortable while offering better value. The pattern suggests that while the tradition of returning home for Hari Raya remains deeply rooted, travellers are increasingly managing their budgets with greater care.

In response to this trend, MOVE is introducing a special Raya campaign, offering discounts of up to RM68 for SNAP (flight + hotel) and RM58 for hotel bookings until 29 March, to help travellers enjoy meaningful reunions or holidays.

Nadia Omer, CEO of AirAsia MOVE said, “For the travel industry, these trends reinforce the importance of offering broader choice, transparent pricing and high flexibility. At MOVE, we see travel momentum during this period as an opportunity to facilitate mobility across Asean, enabling people to celebrate traditions while planning their journeys in a more thoughtful and efficient way.”

Taken together, the trends suggest that Hari Raya 2026 is not only a peak travel season, but also a reflection of shifted consumer behaviour across Asean, with travel decisions becoming more collective, strategic and value-driven.

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