Why are Flights to Coron and El Nido So Expensive?
Why are Flights to Coron and El Nido So Expensive? (2026 Guide) If you have been checking flight prices for your dream trip to Palawan lately, you might have felt a bit of "sticker shock." Whether you are looking at the turquoise lagoons of Coron or the limestone cliffs of El Nido , airfares have reached record highs. But why is it suddenly so pricey to reach paradise? The Reasons Behind the Price Surge Several factors are coming together in 2026 to push domestic flight prices in the Philippines higher than ever before: Limited Capacity & Smaller Aircraft: Many routes to Coron (Busuanga) and El Nido are served by smaller turboprop planes. These aircraft carry fewer passengers (often only 60-70) but have high operating costs similar to larger jets, leading to higher price-per-seat ratios. Infrastructure Changes: Starting in 2025/2026, many small-jet operations were moved from Manila (NAIA) to Clark International Airport (CRK) . This shift in logistics and airport fe...