The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has issued an immediate cease and desist order against AirAsia MOVE, prohibiting the digital travel platform from offering, promoting, or selling tickets of other Philippine carriers at rates exceeding the fare structures approved by the government. The directive came following reports that the app was listing tickets of other local airlines at unusually high prices.
The aviation agency, which sets airfare price ceilings in the Philippines, reported that Malaysia-based AirAsia MOVE significantly hiked ticket prices following transportation disruptions in Tacloban City caused by the closure of a key bridge to trucks. According to data from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), AirAsia MOVE charged as much as PHP77,000 for a one-way ticket from Manila to Tacloban via Philippine Airlines over the weekend — more than three times the fare listed on the flag carrier’s official website.
In a press conference held earlier today, DOTr Secretary Vivicencio “Vince” Dizon also instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) Cybercrime Division to take down the AirAsia MOVE website. This directive will be implemented pending coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). An economic sabotage case is also expected to be filed against AirAsia MOVE.
In response, AirAsia MOVE (MOVE), the travel tech platform developed by Capital A (formerly known as the airasia Superapp), released an official statement affirming its full cooperation with Philippine authorities and clarifying its role as an Online Travel Agency (OTA). The platform emphasized that it does not manually set or manipulate airfares displayed on its website or app.
“As an Online Travel Agency (OTA), MOVE displays flight inventory and pricing data as provided by its authorized upstream suppliers, including third-party aggregators and Global Distribution Systems (GDS),” the company said.
According to MOVE, the pricing discrepancies, particularly on domestic routes operated by Philippine Airlines (PAL), were due to temporary data synchronization issues involving a third-party pricing provider. The issue reportedly affected other major booking platforms such as Agoda, Kiwi.com, and Traveloka. MOVE stated that it had raised the concern with its partner for immediate resolution and is enhancing safeguards to prevent future incidents.
MOVE also stressed that it remains fully compliant with all regulatory requirements for OTAs operating in the country and welcomes the opportunity to clarify the matter with authorities, calling for due process to ensure fair treatment.
The company continues to contribute to the Philippines’ tourism sector through digital innovation and enhanced regional connectivity. Since launching in the country, AirAsia MOVE has recorded strong growth in bookings, with 85% driven by domestic travel and a 28% year-on-year increase in international arrivals, particularly to Manila, Cebu, and Boracay.
AirAsia MOVE clarified that it is a separate entity from AirAsia Philippines, which operates local flights.