Adventure seekers are itching to get out once the quarantine is over and unrestricted travel is back in place. This leaves us wondering: Are airlines going to hike their fares in view of the reduced number of seats for sale?
According to a report by Inquirer.net, passenger planes may have to keep some seats empty if they are to follow the new normal of social distancing in flight.
Cebu Pacific spokesperson Charo Logarta-Lagamon has assured that the Gokongwei-led budget airline will continue to provide low airfares.
In an interview with DZMM Teleradyo on April 28, Logarta-Lagamon said, "Mayroon namang ibang ways para ma-manage natin the cost of a flight. So hindi naman necessary na tataas ito [at] wala nang Piso Fare."
"Mandate na po ng Cebu Pacific mula noong magsimula ang airline 24 years ago, mandato na po na magbigay sa publiko ng abot-kaya at accessible na pamasahe. She stressed that the Piso Fare is a company mandate, and that "there will always be room for budget fare."
In the same interview, the spokesperson delineated how Cebu Pacific will implement the new normal in airline travel.
"Pagbalik ng passenger commercial flights, kapag tayong lahat ay puwede nang lumipad, magkakaroon tayo ng new normal." This includes "protocols on safety, on sanitation, on health" that will include disinfection and cleaning of aircrafts in between flights and upon parking in boneyards.
Passengers will be required to wear face masks "mula pagtungtong niyo sa airport hanggang pagbaba niyo sa pupuntahan niyo," continued Logarta-Lagamon. Meanwhile, their personnel will wear personal protective equipment.
Logarta-Lagamon also hinted that online travel transactions may become the norm rather than an option, saying, "We will encourage na bawasan ang contact with the ground personnel para maintain pa rin tayo ng social and physical distancing. She highly encourages checking in via the website or the app so that the queues will only be intended for those with check-in baggage.
The spokesperson also commented on the reports released internationally on the possibility of increased fares due to unsold seats or the idea of not selling the middle seats on flights. "Kapag konti kasi ang nabebentang upuan, pag kunwari hindi na binebenta iyong middle seat, mas konting pasahero ang maghahati sa cost of mounting this flight, so pangamba nila ay tataas ang pamasahe. I think medyo speculative pa po iyan sa ngayon."
This story originally appeared on Pep.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Spot.ph editors.