Malacañang acknowledged that high domestic airfares, sometimes even more expensive than flights to other Asian destinations, are affecting the country’s tourism industry, saying the government is already taking steps to address the problem.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the issue of expensive airfare to local destinations has been raised repeatedly and is now being actively addressed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

She said the concern has become more apparent as travelers point out that flights to destinations such as Siargao can cost more than international trips within Southeast Asia.

Castro explained that one of the major reasons for the high cost is the use of smaller aircraft on many domestic routes, particularly to island destinations.

“May mga nag-o-operate po na smaller aircraft na nakakapag-accommodate lamang ng 60 to 70 passengers pero pareho po ng operational cost as compared sa jet na kayang magsakay ng 200 passengers (There are smaller aircraft that can only accommodate 60 to 70 passengers but have almost the same operational cost as jets that can carry 200 passengers),” she said.

The Palace Press Officer noted that this makes flights more expensive, especially since smaller planes are often the only option for reaching popular tourist spots in the country.

With this, Castro said that Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has already held talks with airline operators to help bring down prices.

“Nakapag-negotiate na po at nakapag-usap na po siya sa pamunuan ng PAL (Philippine Airlines) at Cebu Pacific at nag-agree naman po na mababawasan ang presyo, lalong-lalo na po sa Siargao flights (He has already negotiated and spoken with the management of PAL and Cebu Pacific, and they agreed to reduce prices, especially for Siargao flights),” she said.

Castro said fluctuating fuel costs also affect airfare prices, but stressed that regulators are stepping in when conditions allow.

“Kapag po nakita naman po na bumababa ang presyo, niri-remind po ng CAB ang mga airlines na i-reduce din po nila ang fuel surcharge (When fuel prices go down, the Civil Aeronautics Board reminds airlines to also reduce their fuel surcharge),” she said.

According to Castro, these measures are part of the administration’s broader effort to support tourism by making travel within the country more affordable.

“So, iyon po ang ginagawa ng DOTr para po mas gumanda pa po ang turismo sa ating bansa pagdating po sa issue ng airfare (That is what the DOTr is doing so that tourism in our country can further improve when it comes to the issue of airfare),” she said.

Tourism officials earlier said airfare costs remain one of the major challenges facing the industry, as the government continues to promote domestic destinations under its tourism recovery and growth programs.