HIGH AIRFARE rates for flights connecting Manila and other major hubs to Davao City are being driven by surge-level passenger demand rather than artificial price spikes, according to local tourism officials.
Speaking during a media briefing at Cafe Josefina in the Apo View Hotel, Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) acting head Willenito Tormis Jr. explained that airlines are operating at near-maximum capacity, pushing dynamic fare algorithms to peak rates.
Tormis said major carrier Cebu Pacific reported seat load factors of 90-95% across almost all Davao-bound flights for the entire month of August—marking the airline’s highest passenger volume on the route since the pre-pandemic Era.
The surge in travel interest, fueled in part by major citywide events and festival celebrations, has left direct Manila-to-Davao flights consistently fully booked.
To reach the city, travelers have increasingly resorted to indirect connecting flights through secondary transit points, including:
- Manila – Cebu – Davao
- Clark – Davao
“It’s a good problem in a way,” Tormis said, acknowledging that while high passenger turnout highlights Davao’s strength as a prime business and tourism destination, steep entry costs remain a concern for local promotion. “We are still rallying with them that hopefully they can lower the rates, because it is difficult to promote Davao if the entrance fee—the flight here—is really high.”
City lobbying for more flights
Tormis noted that while local expenses within Davao City remain affordable for visitors, high airfares before arrival pose an obstacle for potential tourists.
The CTOO is actively discussing the capacity bottleneck with airline management.
In response, airline representatives indicated plans to allocate additional aircraft and expand flight frequencies to Davao, particularly ahead of major milestone celebrations in the coming year.
Tourism authorities reaffirmed their commitment to coordinating with local carriers to ensure accessible air connectivity while supporting the city’s economic and travel growth.
