Davao city: Despite the ongoing oil crisis, the Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 (Davao Region) clarified on Wednesday that all domestic flights to and from the city remain operational. However, DOT-11 Director Tanya Rabat-Tan confirmed during a press briefing that two international routes have ceased operations.

According to Philippines News Agency, Qatar Airways has suspended flights, followed by Cebu Pacific's Davao-Bangkok service, which stopped last April 13. Qatar Airways halted regular commercial operations due to airspace closures in the Middle East, while Cebu Pacific temporarily suspended its Davao-Bangkok and Iloilo-Bangkok routes from April 13 to Oct. 24, citing high fuel costs.

"We are continuously monitoring, and so far, all domestic routes are operating," Tan added. She admitted that the suspension of international flights has somehow affected their tourist arrivals. "If flights stop, arrivals decrease. We've also been monitoring foreign arrivals at Davao airport, which connect through Singapore, Hong Kong, Qatar, and Bangkok," she said.

Tan added that currently, the Hong Kong-Davao and Singapore-Davao routes remain operational. She noted that during the recent Holy Week, more domestic flights were scheduled to accommodate the increased demand. "Understandably, a lot of people travel during the season. Airlines increased frequency, then returned to normal. Even the Singapore route added flights temporarily," she said.

Airlines adjust schedules based on passenger demand, she said, expressing optimism about expanding routes. "We are hopeful for more connections and will continue supporting existing ones. If we don't support them, they might weaken and eventually cease operations - and we don't want that to happen," Tan said.