DOTr, CAB expand airport runways to lower ticket prices

The government, throught the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aeronuatics Board (CAB), is implementing various measures to lower airline ticket prices for local destinations.

In a statement, CAB said that the price of an airline ticket depends on several factors, noting that they fully understand the passengers' concerns regarding the high fares on some domestic flights.

First, the size of the airplane and its passenger capacity. If the airplane is large and can carry many passengers, the ticket price per passenger can be lowered because there are more passengers to source revenue from.

The capacity of an Airbus A330, which is used in major local airports such as Cebu, Davao, and General Santos, reaches up to 459 passengers. In contrast, a turboprop aircraft, like the ATR-72, has a capacity of only 72 passengers. Fewer passengers mean higher costs per passenger, leading to higher fares.

Some of the country's airports, such as those in Catarman, Siargao, Antique, and Busuanga, can only accommodate small turboprop aircraft due to their short runways.

The DOTr and CAAP are addressing this issue by extending runways to accommodate large jet aircraft.

This project has been completed at the Antique airport, while a similar project at the Busuanga airport is also nearing completion. Other airports in the country will follow soon.

Another project being implemented by the DOTr and CAAP is to make small airports in the country 'night capable,' so they can be used day and night.

If this is realized, it will lead to more flights at smaller airports and contribute to more affordable ticket prices.

However, the DOTr, through the CAB, continues to monitor overall airline fares—especially on domestic routes, including Manila-Catarman—to ensure that airline ticket prices remain fair and reasonable.