DOT seeks return of turboprops to Naia

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing aviation regulators to lift the ban on turboprop aircraft at the country’s main gateway, arguing that the restriction has made domestic travel more difficult and expensive since its full implementation this year.

Turboprop aircraft, which are smaller than jets and are typically deployed by Philippine carriers on domestic routes, have been ordered out of the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) to free up limited flight slots.

This restriction has forced airlines to shift their turboprop operations to other airports, particularly Clark International Airport, which is about 100 kilometers from Metro Manila.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the policy had added another layer of difficulty to domestic tourism, already weighed down by rising airfares amid volatile jet fuel prices.

“Hopefully, they’ll see that our own people who want to travel cannot travel because you (regulators) have made it more expensive and put more friction into aspirational travel,” Angara-Mathay told reporters.

As such, the DOT chief said the agency was actively lobbying for the return of turboprop operations to Naia.

Angara-Mathay said she had already raised the matter with returning Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, who appeared open to negotiating the allocation of limited flight slots for turboprop aircraft at the airport.

However, any move to allow these smaller aircraft back into the congested gateway would require coordination beyond the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Other stakeholders include Manila International Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Civil Aeronautics Board and Naia’s private operator, New Naia Infrastructure Corp.

Together with the DOTr, these entities comprise the Manila Slot Coordinating Committee.

Airport fees

“We really should [allow turboprop at Naia again],” Angara-Mathay said. “It’s hard to travel to Clark until the train is finished.”

She was referring to the North-South Commuter Railway, whose rail connection serving Clark International Airport is not expected to become operational until 2029.

Beyond the turboprop restrictions, Angara-Mathay said she was also keen on lobbying for the suspension of airport fees, echoing an appeal from Philippine carriers grappling with rising operating expenses.

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The request comes amid the peso’s depreciation against the US dollar.

Asked whether the DOT would raise the issue again with the DOTr, Angara-Mathay replied: “Of course.”

“We’re going to give the big businesses a voice, put in a united request for the government authorities to help the businesses to survive by giving more incentives and cutting out the regulatory fees,” the tourism chief added.

The appeal comes as the country’s two largest carriers grapple with the double whammy of a weak peso and elevated jet fuel costs, both of which have weighed heavily on their profitability.

In the first nine months of 2026, Philippine Airlines incurred a net loss of $159 million as fuel costs jumped by $339.4 million.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific posted a net loss of P5.89 billion in the first half, as expenses climbed to P68.28 billion.