The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has summoned local airlines to explain why roundtrip tickets to Siargao and other popular tourist spots are being sold for as much as ₱30,000, a price that Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon described as excessive.
“I want to know why their fares are so expensive. At times, it is cheaper to go to Japan than to Siargao. To Siargao, it costs ₱25,000 to ₱30,000,” Dizon told The Philippine STAR on Monday, August 18.
The meeting, set for August 26, will bring together representatives of the Association of Air Carriers of the Philippines, along with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. Dizon said the goal is to push for more affordable airfares, especially with the holiday travel season approaching.
Dizon also stressed that the government needs answers since fuel surcharges have been lowered in recent months. CAB currently limits surcharges to ₱117 to ₱342 for domestic flights, and despite this, fares remain unusually high. “I want to find out what the government can do. I know that this is a deregulated industry, but this is just too much,” he added.
This is not the first time DOTr flagged questionable pricing practices. In June, AirAsia’s booking platform was fined ₱6 million for selling Tacloban tickets at nearly ₱39,000 one way.
The talks will also happen just before the first round of passenger service charge (PSC) increases at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport takes effect in September, when terminal fees for international departures will rise to ₱950 and domestic to ₱390.
Meanwhile, major airlines such as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have reported billions in added spending this year as they expand operations to meet growing passenger demand.
