Responding to public concern over rising domestic flight costs, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) announced today a series of strategic infrastructure projects aimed at making air travel more affordable for Filipinos.
Under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez, the agencies are fast-tracking initiatives to address the root causes of high ticket pricing, particularly in provincial routes.
The DOTr emphasized that airfare is heavily influenced by aircraft size and passenger capacity. Currently, many regional destinations are restricted to smaller turboprop aircraft, such as the ATR-72 (72 seats), due to limited runway lengths. These smaller planes naturally carry a higher cost-per-passenger compared to large jets like the Airbus A330, which can seat up to 459 passengers.
To bridge this gap, the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are focused on two primary solutions:
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Runway Extensions: By lengthening runways, smaller airports can finally accommodate larger, more cost-efficient jet aircraft.
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Completed: Antique Airport runway extension.
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In Progress: Busuanga Airport, with several other regional hubs slated for similar upgrades.
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Night-Rating Airports: Many smaller airports currently operate only during daylight hours. By upgrading these facilities to be “night-capable,” the DOTr will allow airlines to increase flight frequency, spreading fixed costs over more trips and lowering overall fares.
While infrastructure remains the long-term solution, the CAB continues to actively monitor domestic routes—specifically high-demand corridors like Manila-Catarman—to prevent predatory pricing and ensure that fares remain reasonable for the traveling public. “Our goal is to ensure that air travel is not a luxury, but an accessible means of transport for all Filipinos,” the DOTr stated. “By expanding our runways and operating hours, we are creating the competitive environment necessary to drive prices down.”
