AirAsia MOVE, the travel booking platform affiliated with the AirAsia brand, has found itself in hot water after being fined P6 million for what authorities called “excessive and unreasonable” airfares. The controversy has sparked renewed calls for stronger oversight of online travel agencies, especially during emergencies that impact regional mobility.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), with the backing of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), imposed the penalty following a public outcry over exorbitant ticket prices on the platform. One reported case involved Leyte Representative Richard Gomez and his wife purchasing two one-way tickets from Tacloban to Manila for a jaw-dropping P77,704—an amount more commonly associated with international business class fares.
“The P6-million penalty imposed on AirAsia MOVE sends a strong and unequivocal message: we will not allow the exploitation of Filipino travelers,” said the DOTr in a statement. “This is about accountability and ensuring that consumers are not taken advantage of during periods of increased vulnerability.”
The outrage stems from a series of incidents reported in the wake of the ongoing San Juanico Bridge repairs, which have severely affected transport routes in Eastern Visayas. With road travel limited and passenger demand spiking, airfares across several booking platforms surged, raising concerns of price gouging.
AirAsia MOVE CEO Nadia Omer responded to the controversy by clarifying that the platform does not set prices manually. She explained that the fare anomalies were a result of temporary synchronization issues with third-party data providers and flight inventory systems.
“We do not control pricing. AirAsia MOVE functions as a travel aggregator, displaying rates from upstream airline and travel partners,” Omer stated. “We have since worked closely with our pricing provider to resolve the issue and implemented additional safeguards to prevent recurrence.”
Despite these assurances, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon doubled down on the government’s position. He said the matter had already reached a level requiring possible legal action and even suggested that AirAsia MOVE could be shut down if similar incidents happen again.
“What’s important to understand here is that the airline, AirAsia Philippines, is not responsible for this. The platform may bear the AirAsia name, but it operates independently,” Dizon clarified, distancing the airline from the booking service.
The incident has triggered wider concerns about the regulation of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), especially during times of national disruption when public dependence on reliable and fair travel options increases. While AirAsia MOVE says it is “fully compliant” with local regulations, authorities are now reviewing the role of tech-driven platforms in the broader transport ecosystem.
Consumer groups have since called for legislation requiring OTAs to cap price spikes during declared emergencies, arguing that algorithm-driven platforms cannot be trusted to self-regulate in high-demand situations.
“Tech is not a valid excuse for price abuse,” said one consumer rights advocate. “Whether it’s a glitch or a deliberate pricing strategy, the customer ends up paying the price—literally.”
As repairs on the San Juanico Bridge continue and travel in the Eastern Visayas remains disrupted, the government has promised to keep a close watch on airfare pricing across all channels. Meanwhile, the P6 million fine serves as both punishment and precedent: a warning to digital platforms that even in the era of automation, accountability remains non-negotiable.