It’s a mixed picture in the aviation and travel industry as cost and conditions bite
It’s a mixed picture in the aviation and travel industry as cost and conditions bite.
Philippine Airlines announced on March 26 that its Cebu-Guam route will be suspended indefinitely starting April 16.
The airline made the announcement on its social media page which wrote “adjustments are being made to some flight schedules due to changing conditions affecting global aviation.”
Philippine Airlines announced that its Cebu-Guam route will be suspended starting April 16. Photo from Journal files
“We understand that this may affect travel plans and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. PAL is working to minimize disruption and will continue to review these routes as conditions improve,” the airline added.
This comes amidst a national fuel crisis as the Iran War continues.
Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 110 on March 24, declaring a state of national energy emergency.
According to the Philippine Information Agency, 98% of the Philippines’ crude oil imports comes from the Middle East.
Korean carrier T'way Air will temporarily suspend its Seoul–Saipan service from May 5 through October 24, according to a March 26 release from the Marianas Visitors Authority. The suspension as the summer travel period approaches is due to “rising global aviation fuel costs, fuel supply constraints and softening travel demand linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis,” MVA said.
Warren F. Villagomez, director of public health and hospital emergency preparedness at the Commonwealth Health Care Corp. and chairman of MVA, said, “ … we are actively engaging with our federal partners, including the Department of Interior, to explore opportunities to bring additional carriers into the CNMI and strengthen the stability of our air service moving forward.”
MVA hopes to see T’way return as early as July, the release said. The Korea market accounts for 64% of visitors, MVA said.
It’s the second day of a March 26 and March 27 public transport strike in Manila, with the Philippine National Police deployed to provide free rides as jeepneys, motorcycle and car ride-hailing drivers protested. A coalition of organizations have various demands from lifting fuel taxes and rolling back oil prices, to abandoning deregulation and introducing state controls.
They are also pushing for fare increases and higher wages.
Diesel and petrol prices have more than doubled since the Iran war broke out on Feb. 28, with the Philippines now in a state of national energy emergency. As the two-day strike started on Thursday a ship carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil arrived in the country, according to the Office of the President.
The PNP will also enforce tightened road safety measures to prevent accidents during the Holy Week and summer travel season, according to media reports.
United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA announced March 26 “a new tentative agreement that if ratified will provide industry-leading wages, better scheduling and other improvements for United's 30,000 flight attendants.”
The agreement includes immediate raises and top wage rates that reach $100 per hour by the end of the agreement, making United flight attendants the best paid in the industry, the airline claimed. It also includes boarding pay, new pay for long gaps between flights and a signing bonus for every flight attendant worth a total of $740 million.
United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA signed a tentative agreement to provide improved wages and other improvements. Photo by Skyler Obispo
At the same time, United announced the addition of United Relax Row seats in Economy that change into a lie-flat mattress space after takeoff. Due to launch in 2027, the feature will be available on “more than 200 Boeing 787 and 777 widebody aircraft by 2030.
In a separate release, United said it plans to add more than 250 planes to its inventory in the next two years.
The Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program is reporting “a surge of inquiries for citizenship by investment, with many looking beyond traditional countries to those with a politically neutral passport like Nauru.”
CEO Edward Clark said the Middle East conflict which is spreading to more countries, and the continuing war in Ukraine which has also recently escalated, have left many families feeling increasingly uncertain about their security, mobility, and long-term options.
Satellite photo of Nauru. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Recent applicants for the Nauru program have included U.S., European, and Middle Eastern citizens, a March 26 release said. Launched in 2025, the Nauru program offers visa-free travel to 85 countries. Due diligence includes “comprehensive financial, police, and third-party checks,” the release said.
Travel incentives dot the landscape in the Asian region, according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
The People’s Republic of China’s unilateral visa-free entry policy for 46 countries has been extended through Dec. 31.
The Korean government is offering 100% cashback on selected domestic trips for Spring Travel Month.
Thailand has introduced the Destination Thailand Visa to attract high-quality visitors, digital nomads, and participants in cultural activities.
Also driving travel: A 33% outbound surge from Singapore for Hari Raya and Korea sees 103% surge in hotel bookings by foreign tourists ahead of BTS concert in April. mbj
In a release congratulating Markwayne Mullin on his confirmation as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Transport Security Administration, TSA shared information on its current situation.
The Port Authority of Guam cut the ribbon on the upgraded Equipment, Maintenance, and Repair Building, signaling the completion of the $3.84 million project.
The Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation has acknowledged the issues it has in a March 23 release and said it “is currently operating with adjusted services due to a temporary issue with its tax and licensing system.”
