Philippine airlines seek airport fee relief as peso weakens
The carriers’ association wants charges waived or reduced at major hubs, including NAIA, Cebu, Davao and Clark.
The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) has asked transport chief Vince Dizon for relief from airport charges, saying higher fuel prices and a weakening peso are straining airlines. Its appeal covers fees paid by carriers and passengers at major airports.
ACAP executive director Jose Enrique Perez de Tagle told The Philippine Star that suspending or lowering charges would help airlines weather the pressures. The association, whose members are Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines (PAL) and AirAsia Philippines, identified Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Cebu, Davao and Clark as priorities.
At NAIA, international passengers have been charged ₱950 rather than ₱550 since 2025, while the domestic passenger charge increased from ₱200 to ₱390. Perez de Tagle said reducing these charges would also help travellers facing higher costs and a weaker currency.
Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Alexander Lao said the airline earns 70 per cent of its revenue locally but incurs 70 per cent of its costs in dollars. He said rising expenses would have to be passed on. Its flying costs reached ₱30.88 billion as of June, compared with ₱20.59 billion a year earlier.
PAL chief operating officer Carlos Luis Fernandez said dollar-based fares offer some protection, with fuel-price changes reflected in surcharges following Civil Aeronautics Board levels. Cebu Pacific and PAL recorded net losses of ₱5.91 billion and ₱1.84 billion, respectively.
Civil Aeronautics Board figures put first-half passenger traffic at 32.7 million, up one per cent from 32.3 million a year earlier. That followed nine per cent growth in the corresponding period last year.
