The threat of flight cutbacks is becoming increasingly real in the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has warned that commercial flight operations could be temporarily suspended due to a jet fuel crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. The situation has made it difficult for airlines to secure aviation fuel, even at transit airports.
According to a report by Bloomberg on Tuesday (March 24), Marcos described the possibility of halting flight operations as “a real possibility.”
He revealed that several countries have informed Philippine airlines that they are unable to supply fuel for aircraft making stopovers. As a result, airlines are now required to carry additional fuel from departure, including enough for return journeys.
“Several countries have already told our airlines they cannot fuel their aircraft, so they have to carry fuel there and back,” Marcos said.
“Long haul is going to be a much more serious problem.”
This condition has driven up operational costs and increased the risk of flight disruptions, particularly for long-haul routes.
Philippine Airlines Begin Cutting Flights
The impact of the crisis is already being felt by airlines. Cebu Pacific has started reducing its flight network after fuel prices surged to more than double the 2025 average. Several international routes have been temporarily suspended, while others have seen reduced frequencies.
Some routes have been fully suspended for specific periods. The Davao–Bangkok (Don Mueang) route will be halted from April 13 to October 23, followed by Iloilo–Bangkok (Don Mueang) from April 17 to October 24. Meanwhile, the Clark–Hanoi route will be suspended from May 2 to October 25, and Iloilo–Singapore will stop operating from mid-June until the end of October.
In addition to full suspensions, frequency reductions are also affecting key routes. Manila–Kuala Lumpur flights will be reduced from seven to five times per week starting April 15, while Manila–Jakarta will drop from seven to four weekly flights beginning April 14.
The Cebu–Singapore route, previously operating daily, will also be reduced to five times per week starting April 16. Meanwhile, Manila–Sydney and Manila–Melbourne flights are also experiencing schedule reductions, although these are being implemented on selected dates.
Airlines say these measures are necessary to maintain operational stability amid rising costs caused by the global crisis. Affected passengers have been offered options to reschedule, request refunds, or convert their tickets into travel credits.
Vietnam Also Affected, Dozens of Flights Cut
The impact is not limited to the Philippines. Vietnam has begun taking similar measures, with its civil aviation authority announcing cuts of nearly two dozen domestic flights per week starting in April.
“Vietnam Airlines plans to temporarily suspend operations on several routes from April 1, totaling 23 flights per week,” the authority said in a statement on Monday (March 23), as quoted by AFP.
They added, “imited supply of aviation fuel (Jet A-1) due to the conflict in the Middle East has put domestic airlines at risk of fuel shortages, prompting the flight cuts.”
Despite the cuts, key domestic routes and international flights will continue to operate. Vietnam is also considering implementing a fuel surcharge on international routes starting in April.
As a precautionary step, the country has sought fuel supply support from several nations, including Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria, and Japan. In addition, Vietnam has signed cooperation agreements with Russia in oil and gas production.
Crisis Spreads: Airport Closures, Global Flight Disruptions
The crisis stems directly from the conflict disrupting global energy distribution, particularly from the Middle East. Several major international airports, including Dubai International Airport, Hamad International Airport, and Abu Dhabi International Airport, have reportedly been closed, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
At the global level, airlines are adjusting capacity and routes. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has urged governments to provide support, as the aviation industry faces mounting pressure from rising fuel prices, higher insurance premiums, and increased operational costs.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route that carries around 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, have further worsened the situation, exposing significant vulnerabilities in global jet fuel supply chains.
The Philippines, which relies heavily on oil imports from the Middle East, is among the most affected countries. Although the government says fuel supplies remain available, the threat of a prolonged crisis continues to loom over the region’s aviation sector.
