In brief
AirAsia MOVE says it is prepared to work with Philippine authorities on industry-wide customer-protection safeguards. At a Civil Aeronautics Board inquiry into a fare discrepancy involving a domestic flight to Tacloban, CEO Nadia Omer said MOVE’s pricing is automated and fares come from third-party aggregators or airline partners, rather than being manually set by the platform. The company says it asked suppliers to remove the fares in question and found no booking transaction during its internal review, so it believes no passengers were affected. MOVE also says it received no commission from the displayed fares. The company is offering to collaborate with the government on a task force and policies to monitor pricing across booking platforms and the third-party supply chain.
Key takeaways
- CEO Nadia Omer told CAB officials that MOVE does not manually set or alter fares displayed on its platform.
- MOVE says the fares came from third-party suppliers and that it requested their removal.
- The company says its review found no booking transaction and that it received no commission from the fares.
- MOVE offered to work with Philippine authorities on a task force and pricing-monitoring policies.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES, June 9, 2025 -- MEDIA STATEMENT
Please attribute to: Nadia Omer, CEO of MOVE
MOVE reiterates its commitment to reliable, accessible, and affordable travels
MOVE, the only foreign-registered OTA, in full compliance with local regulations - paying Philippine taxes and providing employment to Filipinos
AirAsia MOVE (MOVE) today reaffirms its commitment to join hands with the government in the Philippines in pushing for industry-wide safeguards that ensure customer protection. During the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) inquiry on Thursday, MOVE clarified its position regarding the alleged overpricing as a result of a fare discrepancy in Tacloban involving a domestic flight carrier.
No manual fare manipulation
AirAsia MOVE CEO Nadia Omer appeared before CAB officials to clarify the supply chain process in the Online Travel Agency (OTA) industry, and emphasized the following key points:
- MOVE’s pricing mechanism is automated;
- There is no manual intervention or manipulation of fares on the platform;
- All fares are sourced from third-party aggregators, not set by OTAs like MOVE.
“We thank the CAB for giving us the opportunity to be heard at a proper venue in the observance of due process. The issue at hand has become a platform to proactively engage and educate stakeholders on how the supply chain works within OTAs.
“We want to clarify that OTAs operate through third-party aggregators, aside from direct airline partners. These third-party aggregators directly engage with various airlines to sell their seats. OTAs work with these third-party aggregators as a marketing arm or platform. Therefore, OTAs do not have the ability to manually alter prices passed on from these suppliers or airline partners.”
“We also want to clarify that there is no overpricing and manipulation as these go against the very principle of our company – to provide affordable fares and a wide range of options to make traveling more accessible and inclusive for every consumer, on every budget,” Omer said.
MOVE flags third-party suppliers
Following the cease and desist order, MOVE immediately took action by calling out the attention of the third-party suppliers, requesting for an immediate removal of the fares in question.
During its internal investigation, MOVE confirmed that no booking transaction was made. Likely, no passengers were affected by the displayed fare.
Omer adds, “Other than facing intense public scrutiny, MOVE did not gain any commission out of the fares in question. We immediately asked our third-party suppliers to provide a written explanation to ensure full clarity on the issue.”'
Forging strong collaboration, advocating consumer protection
In the Philippines, airline fares are regulated by the CAB, which sets price ceilings and ensures any fare adjustments are approved accordingly. Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) monitors accommodation rates. However, complaints about pricing on OTAs are typically referred to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“As a company that advocates consumer protection, MOVE is ready to work closely with the government in setting up a task force and developing policies to monitor pricing across to ensure alignment not just on booking platforms, but across the third-party supply chain.
Omer adds, “We ask that the government also strike a balance between monitoring and regulating OTAs to ensure equal protection while encouraging economic activity and driving tourism. OTAs, like MOVE, are here to democratize travel by providing a wide range of options that suits every traveler’s budget requirements and travel aspirations.”
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Questions around this news
How does MOVE say fares reach its booking platform?
At the Civil Aeronautics Board inquiry, MOVE said its pricing process is automated and that it does not manually change fares. It said prices come from airline partners or third-party aggregators, which work with airlines to sell seats. MOVE described its role in the latter arrangement as a marketing platform.
What was the Tacloban fare discrepancy about?
The release says the inquiry concerned an alleged overpricing issue linked to a fare discrepancy in Tacloban involving a domestic flight carrier. MOVE said it asked its third-party suppliers to remove the fares in question after a cease-and-desist order and requested written explanations from them.
Did anyone book a ticket at the fare in question?
MOVE said its internal investigation found no booking transaction for the fare in question. It also said that passengers were likely not affected by the displayed fare. The release does not identify a specific passenger or provide further details about the investigation’s findings.
Which Philippine agencies oversee travel pricing, according to the release?
The release says the Civil Aeronautics Board regulates airline fares, sets price ceilings and approves fare adjustments. It says the Department of Tourism monitors accommodation rates, while complaints about pricing on online travel agencies are typically referred to the Department of Trade and Industry. MOVE said it was willing to work with the government on monitoring policies.
