The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) is seeking fare waivers and stronger passenger assistance from Middle Eastern airlines as regional tensions disrupt flight routes and send international ticket prices sharply higher.
PTAA president Jaison Yang said the group will meet airline executives on March 12 to request more flexible rebooking policies, waived penalties and full refunds for affected passengers once flights resume.
The request comes as several airlines cancel or reroute flights following airspace restrictions across parts of the Middle East, a major aviation corridor connecting Asia to Europe.
“Airfares have already increased, especially among non–Middle Eastern carriers that are now experiencing higher demand from passengers affected by canceled flights,” Yang told Context.ph. “As a result, fares are expected to rise further, particularly with the ongoing increase in fuel prices.”
Travel agencies say rebooking requests from stranded travelers have surged in recent days, but only a limited number of airlines are able to absorb displaced passengers.
Many Filipino travelers flying to Europe and the Middle East rely on Gulf-based carriers that operate major hubs in the region. When flights are canceled or rerouted, passengers often scramble for alternative seats on other airlines, tightening supply and driving up fares.
“We are asking carriers to ease rebooking and waive all penalties once they resume flights, as well as provide full refunds for canceled and unused bookings,” Yang said.
He added that the spike in fares is already evident in booking systems used by travel agents.
“We don’t have exact figures, but we see some carriers already double their airfares from last month or before the conflict,” Yang said.
Despite the disruption, PTAA said travel agencies are adjusting itineraries and exploring alternative routes for clients. Yang noted that domestic trips and regional travel within Asia remain viable options for Filipino tourists while international routes remain volatile.
Industry players are closely watching developments in the Middle East, as prolonged airspace disruptions could further strain airline capacity and push ticket prices even higher in the coming weeks.
