The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has imposed a ₱6 million penalty on the online booking platform AirAsia MOVE over alleged excessive and unreasonable ticket prices, prompting strong support from the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
In a statement released Friday, the DOTr lauded CAB’s “swift action,” saying the fine underscores the government’s firm stance against any abuse targeting Filipino travelers. “The ₱6-million penalty imposed on AirAsia MOVE sends a clear message: the government will not tolerate any form of abuse to Filipino passengers,” the DOTr said.
The issue came to light following reports of one-way domestic flights priced as high as ₱77,704, including one highlighted by Leyte Representative Richard Gomez, who said he and his wife purchased such tickets via the Malaysia-based platform for a trip from Tacloban to Manila.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon earlier expressed outrage and called for possible charges and even the closure of AirAsia MOVE. However, he clarified that the airline company AirAsia Philippines is separate from the online platform. “They’re affiliated but… I don’t think AirAsia Philippines has anything to do with this,” Dizon explained.
AirAsia MOVE CEO Nadia Omer defended the platform, stating that it does not manually control fares. She attributed the fare discrepancies to temporary issues in data synchronization with third-party pricing providers. “MOVE has been working closely with relevant authorities and is fully compliant with all regulatory requirements applicable to Online Travel Agencies operating in the Philippines,” Omer said.
She added that corrective measures have already been implemented, including enhancements to safeguard against future pricing glitches. The fare controversy comes at a time when infrastructure repairs, including those on the San Juanico Bridge in Eastern Visayas, are already straining passenger travel and logistics in the region.
