Malacañang expressed confidence that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is taking measures to lower airfare rates to local tourist destinations across the country.

Asked during a press briefing about why domestic airfares are significantly higher compared to those in some ASEAN countries, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the DOTr is currently working on solutions to address the issue.

Citing a statement from Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Castro outlined several factors behind the increase in airfares.

The first reason for the higher fares is the operation of smaller aircraft that can accommodate only 60 to 70 passengers but have the same operational costs as jet aircraft that can carry around 200 passengers.

“So kung tutuusin po, mas mahal talaga kapag smaller aircraft ang ginagamit, pero karaniwan po ay iyon lamang ang maaaring bumiyahe sa mga magagandang destinasyon sa Pilipinas,” Castro said.

Secondly, Castro said Lopez has already negotiated with the management of Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, who agreed to lower prices, especially for flights to Siargao.

Lastly, Castro said fluctuating fuel costs also affect airfares. However, when fuel prices go down, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) reminds airlines to reduce fuel surcharges, effectively cutting down ticket prices.

“Yan po ang ginagawa ng DOTr para mas gumanda pa po ang turismo ng ating bansa pagdating po sa airfare,” Castro said.

It can be recalled that Senator Erwin Tulfo has been advocating for lower domestic flight prices to boost local tourism, noting that some Philippine routes can cost more than flying abroad.

The senator is urging the establishment of direct flights to underserved provinces and the implementation of better pricing policies, while other lawmakers support multi-agency efforts to address the issue.