Undas 2026
As I write this column over the traditional All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holiday, I wonder if the recent deterioration of the peso against the US dollar, the rising inflation and the high cost of jet fuel have crimped the travel plans of most Filipinos.
As the writer contemplates the recent economic challenges faced by Filipinos during the traditional All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holiday, they note the impact of the US-Iran War on the cost of jet fuel. Jet fuel prices soared above $200 per barrel, prompting the Civil Aeronautics Board to raise fuel surcharges to up to P1,834 for domestic flights and P15,397 for international flights, increasing travel costs by up to 25 percent.
While travel disruptions in the Middle East have affected travel to Europe, domestic and international travel to the US, Southeast Asia, and other regions remained unaffected. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) anticipates handling 1.25 million passengers during the nine-day Undas travel period from October 27 to November 4, with a one percent increase from last year's 1.24 million passengers.
The busiest day is projected to be October 30, with about 149,000 travelers. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board approved over 1,200 special permits for provincial buses. The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) expects to service around 1.89 million passengers. Despite the high fuel prices, it remains to be seen if domestic air travel is now constrained.
The writer reflects on their own decision to avoid areas with cemeteries during this holiday and instead visit their departed loved ones a week before November 1 to avoid traffic and road closures. They are curious to see how Filipinos are adjusting to the rising cost of everything and if traveling abroad is still within their budget.
The younger generation, they observe, has a "fear of missing out" mentality and would rather live in the moment than plan for the future. The writer remains cautious about the peso's fluctuation against the dollar, with a fear that the level of 65 pesos per dollar may be breached before the year ends. However, with the Christmas holidays approaching, the pressure on the peso may subside as overseas Filipinos return to spend Christmas and New Year here.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a 0.5 percent fall in air traffic demand in September, with weaknesses in the Middle East and North America. However, IATA anticipates that global scheduled seat capacity will remain above 2025 levels in October and November, though growth rates remain weak and unbalanced across regions.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
