Travel and Tourism

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) intends to accelerate the upgrade of local airports nationwide to be able to lower airfares while accepting larger airplanes that can carry more passengers. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said they are prioritizing runway extensions, particularly at airports where longer runways would allow airlines to operate larger aircraft capable of carrying more passengers. “For our new …

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez assured the House of Representatives that the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project will finally be completed, with construction of the last two stations expected to begin before 2026 ends. Sec. Lopez told legislators DOTr expects to start construction of the remaining sections of the multi-billion-peso railway project within 2026. Rep. Mark Anthony Santos …

The House of Representatives recently approved the renewal of the franchise of Philippine Airlines for another 50 years. Lawmakers – 250 voting affirmative, three negative and one abstention – approved House Bill 10545, extending PAL’s legislative franchise originally under Presidential Decree (PD) 1590 to establish, operate, and maintain domestic and international air transportation services.  The franchise renewal provides PAL with …

The Philippines and New Zealand agreed to further strengthen ties on migrant labor by advocating for safer, more responsible hiring and protection for Filipino workers. At the recent Philippines-New Zealand Friendship Week celebration, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their New Zealand employers agreed to reinforce labor ties as the two …

The Marcos administration has allocated P197.30 billion for big-ticket railway infrastructure projects for 2027—more than triple this year’s funding—to ensure on-time completion of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), the country’s first underground railway, and other major rail projects aimed at benefiting millions of Filipinos while providing access to economic opportunities. Under the proposed national budget for 2027, funding for the …

The recent reclassification of the Philippines as an upper-middle-income country (UMIC) will hopefully improve the country’s long-term outlook for air travel, although infrastructure constraints and operating costs remain key challenges. The World Bank officially upgraded the Philippines to UMIC status after the country’s gross national income (GNI) per capita reached $4,850, exceeding the $4,636 threshold for the income group. The …

The ongoing fleet expansion race of Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific remain unaffected by high fuel costs and a declining peso although the two carriers are implementing measures to cushion the impact of aviation challenges, according to S&P Global Ratings. S&P said airlines in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to post diminished earnings starting the second quarter due to elevated …

New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) recently signed an airport use agreement (AUA) with Philippine Airlines (PAL), which aims to accelerate NNIC’s modernization plans for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The AUA will mainly improve coordination between NNIC and PAL with the airport operator focusing on upgrades on airport facilities, services and operational efficiency. Under the partnership, NNIC and PAL …

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has again raised fuel surcharge levels leading to higher airfares in September. CAB increased the applicable surcharge rate to Level 13 for the period of Sept. 1 to 15 from Level 12. Under Level 13 fuel surcharge, airlines may impose a surcharge of ₱423 to ₱1,237 for domestic flights and between ₱1,396.74 and ₱10,385.42 for …

The governments of the Philippines and Iceland recently signed its first air service agreement (ASA), opening direct and connecting flights, up to seven weekly flights, between the capitals of the two countries. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed the ASA with Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez saying the ASA opens the opportunity for the …