Philippine Government Criticizes AirAsia Over MOVE App Ticket Pricing

Philippine Government Condemns AirAsia Over Ticket Price Surge on MOVE App

Government Response to Price Hike

The Philippine government has launched a strong condemnation of AirAsia following a significant surge in ticket prices on flights sold through AirAsia MOVE, the company’s online travel agency platform. The price increase, which saw fares to and from Tacloban rise sixfold, occurred after the government blocked AirAsia MOVE’s operations in the country. This action was prompted by the closure of a key bridge to heavy vehicles, which disrupted travel and contributed to the spike in demand. On June 2, 2025, Filipino Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon described the price hike as "absurd" and "criminal," emphasizing the government’s commitment to prosecuting online platforms that exploit consumers during crises.

Secretary Dizon announced that the Philippine National Police’s cybercrime unit had been instructed to block AirAsia MOVE, while the Civil Aeronautics Board issued a cease and desist order against the platform. AirAsia MOVE is owned by the Malaysian AirAsia entity, which is ultimately controlled by Capital A. The platform offers online travel services, including flight bookings from over 700 airlines, among them AirAsia’s own carriers.

AirAsia’s Market Position in the Philippines

AirAsia Philippines, operating out of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, holds a 10.64% market share by capacity within the country. The Malaysian AirAsia carrier also serves the Philippine market, though on a smaller scale. This dual presence underscores the company’s significant footprint in the region’s aviation sector.

AirAsia MOVE’s Explanation and Industry Context

In response to the controversy, MOVE CEO Nadia Omer attributed the pricing irregularities to temporary data synchronization issues with third-party flight pricing suppliers. She explained that the technical discrepancy was not unique to MOVE but also affected other major booking platforms such as Agoda, Kiwi.com, and Traveloka. Omer emphasized that MOVE displays flight inventory and pricing as provided by authorized upstream suppliers, including global distribution systems and aggregators.

Regulatory Compliance and Ongoing Measures

The Civil Aeronautics Board enforces a ceiling on domestic airfares, and it confirmed that MOVE’s ticket prices on the Tacloban-Manila route exceeded the maximum allowable fare. Omer stated that MOVE has engaged with the third-party pricing provider to resolve the issue promptly and has implemented measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. She further assured that MOVE is cooperating fully with Philippine authorities and remains compliant with all regulatory requirements governing online travel agencies operating in the country.