CITY DAD RAISES CONCERN OVER PRICEY AIRFARES

A city councilor said airfares to Davao City are costly as compared to other destinations and this may affect the tourism industry here.

A city councilor said the recent high cost of air travel to Davao City may affect its tourism sector.

Davao City councilor Al Ryan Alejandre said the high airfares by airlines might affect other Filipino tourists in the country who might want to come and visit in the city.

“Most Filipinos have also complained about the high fares of tickets, especially those purchased at the last minute,” Alejandre said on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 during his privilege speech at the 18th regular city council session at Sangguniang Panlungsod, Davao city.

Alejandre added some Filipinos are already even clamoring for regulation of the air fares, because airlines are just raising the prices on their own.

Upon checking the airfares for himself, city councilor Alejandre saw the ticket price differences for each flight destination.

“The cost for a Davao to Manila and vice versa for a September 4 flight in one of the major airlines in the country, which is PAL (Philippine Airlines), costs P11,589. If you cross reference it with General Santos flight, taken on the same date, September. The GensanManila and vice versa flight only costs P8,403,” Alejandre said.

He also checked Cebu Pacific Airlines if the high airfare holds true.

“Davao-Manila vice versa airfare is at P7,421. The Gensan to Manila and vice versa air fare costs P7,674 which shows a small margin,” Alejandre said.

For international flight Hongkong to Manila and vice versa costs P6,876.

“So again a travel abroad costs lower than that of a DavaoManila flight,” Alejandre said.

He also said this high airfares might bring more inconvenience to Filipino travelers given with the current state of the country’s air transportation system.

“I know that in several instances, the air transportation industry has been subject of many complaints, the recent of which is the mishap at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which led to many cancelled and delayed flights,” Alejandre said.

“The cost for a Davao to Manila and vice versa for a September 4 flight in one of the major airlines in the country, which is PAL (Philippine Airlines), costs P11,589. If you cross reference it with General Santos flight, taken on the same date, September. The Gensan-Manila and vice versa flight only costs P8,403.” Davao city councilor AL RYAN ALEJANDRE