With the ongoing war in the Middle East triggering a global oil crisis and driving up airfares, people are still interested in traveling but have become more conscious of their spending, according to Singapore Airlines (SIA), which also noted that it is responding by providing value-for-money offerings.
“We still see interest in people wanting to travel overseas, despite whatever is happening,” Liwei Tai, SIA’s general manager for the Philippines, told reporters during the Time to Fly Virtual Travel Fair 2026 media event on Thursday.
“(But) we do see that people are more conscious in making sure that when they book a ticket, it’s a good value, which means, okay, I buy a ticket, what else can I have? What is the experience that I will have?” Ms. Tai added.
“And this is what we offer at Singapore Airlines… we know that you’re getting good value for the ticket that you’re buying.”
According to a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Aug. 31, global passenger demand slightly inched up by 0.2% in July compared with the same period last year.
It also said that demand is still expected to be threatened by high fuel costs, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, while carriers expect an almost 3% expansion in seat capacity in September.
Underscoring its commitment to provide Filipinos with more accessible world-class travel experiences, SIA announced several discounts, rewards for Mastercard holders, and other perks during its travel fair media event.
SIA’s Time to Fly Virtual Travel Fair 2026 will run from Sept. 18 to Oct. 15, offering deals and promotions to destinations across the airline’s global network, with travel from Sept. 20 to Aug. 31, 2027.
This includes destinations such as Sydney, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Manchester, and Madrid, SIA’s latest destination, with connections via Singapore. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
