Consumer protection raised in air ticket pricing probe

MANILA, Philippines —  The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has commenced its hearing into the overpricing case involving AirAsia Move, following allegations raised by the Department of Transportation regarding inflated fares to Tacloban.

During the hearing, Move officials clarified that they have no control over ticket pricing, which is determined by third-party suppliers.

Nadia Omer of AirAsia Move explained the supply chain process for online travel agencies, saying third-party aggregators coordinate directly with airlines to secure ticket prices, which are then passed on to OTAs. These prices are simply reflected on the Move platform and are not manipulated by the OTA itself.

This clarification follows public concerns over an allegedly overpriced ticket to Tacloban amounting to P77,704 or nearly P40,000 for one-way fare. MOVE emphasized that this fare originated from a third-party supplier and that the platform merely served as a marketing arm.

In response, MOVE immediately reached out to its third-party supplier to address the issue and investigate the matter further.

Despite not being the source of the pricing, MOVE has proactively engaged with relevant government agencies to protect consumer rights. The company has expressed willingness to participate in the formulation of policies that will allow for better price monitoring of airline tickets not just on booking platforms but also at the level of third-party suppliers.

AirAsia MOVE remains steadfast in its goal of promoting transparency and accountability within the online travel industry and will continue collaborating with the authorities to ensure fair pricing for all consumers.