DOTr summons airlines over P30k roundtrip fare to Siargao
The Department of Transportation has launched a probe into round-trip fares to Siargao that cost P30,000.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon summoned airlines to a meeting next week to ask why tickets for domestic flights reached such prices.
"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 P25,000 to P30,000," he told The Philippine STAR.
In the meeting, the DOTr also wants to know what the agency can do for carriers to lower the cost of flights, especially with the holiday season coming.
"I want to find out what the government can do. I know that this is a deregulated industry, but this is just too much," Dizon said.
For August, the CAB set the fuel surcharge at level 4. This means for domestic flights, the passenger fuel surcharge will be between P117 and P342, while for international flights, rates will be between P385.70 and P2,867.62, depending on the distance.
The Association of Air Carriers of the Philippines will represent the airlines during the meeting with Dizon, the Civil Aeronautics Board, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
In June, AirAsia MOVE faced a hefty penalty of P6 million due to allegedly "unacceptable" ticket prices to Tacloban.
The case stemmed from the complaint by Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez and his wife, Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez. Through AirAsia Move, they booked a one-way flight from Tacloban to Manila via Philippine Airlines worth P77,704, or nearly P40,000 per ticket.
"The P6 million penalty on AirAsia MOVE sends a clear message: The government will not tolerate any form of abuse to Filipino passengers," the DOTr said in a statement at the time.
The DOTr will also meet with airlines ahead of the implementation of the passenger service charge hike at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this September.
The PSC will increase from P200 to P390 for domestic flights and from P550 to P950 for international flights. (with reports from Elijah Felice Rosales)
