I.

RESPONDENT’S PROFILE

Table 1. Age of the Respondents

AGE (IN YEARS) FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%) RANK

18-24 53 53.00 1
25-34 30 30.00 2
35-44 8 8.00 3
45-54 5 5.00 4
55-64 4 4.00 5
TOTAL 100 100.00

The distribution of the respondents according to age are shown in the table above. It can

be found that more than half of the respondents have ages between 18-24 years old. Ranked

second, third and fourth are those aging 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54, respectively. Respondents aging

55-64 account the least number in the distribution. The results above signify that most

passengers at NAIA terminal 3 are young adults.

There is substantial evidence from existing studies that young people today want to travel

as far to go as long, resulting in more spending, and are less in touch with home than ever before

(Ghete, 2015). This age group has been described by UKCES (2013) as more active, out-going,

flexible, and dynamic. This explains why young individuals are more engaged in airline flights

than their middle-age counterparts.

Table 2. Gender of the Respondents

GENDER FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%) RANK

Male 42 42.00 2
Female 57 57.00 1
Prefer not to say 1 1.00 3
TOTAL 100 100.00

Table 2 presents the distribution of the respondents according to gender. The findings of

the survey conducted by the researchers revealed that majority of the respondents are females.

The minority, which comprises 42% males. The remaining 1% preferred not to say or reveal

one’s gender. This implies that women passengers outnumber men at NAIA terminal 3. The

results seem to contradict with the assertions made by Turner (n.d., as cited in Quora, 2020) that

more men travel than women because of the job roles they fill. Women are concentrated at the

home, men make up the majority of activities that involve travel. However, the National

Geographic Magazine in 2020 has suggested there is a surge in women opportunities as well as

the rising sense of empowerment among women.

Table 3. Type of Travel

TYPE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%) RANK

Domestic 72 72.00 1
International 28 28.00 2
TOTAL 100 100.00

Table 3 presents the distribution of the respondents on the basis of type of travel. It can

be noted that almost all passenger had a history of domestic travel at NAIA terminal 3. Less than

half of the respondents have taken international flights.

 The findings in table 3 seem to be consistent with the assertions made by Chokshi (2021)

that because of the pandemic, domestic flights were made to operate while international flights

were temporarily halted. Similarly, Aviation authorities claim that international flights took a toll

of the pandemic as different countries implemented quarantine measures.

Table 4. Purpose of Travel

Purposes FREQUENCY RANK

Leisure 55 1
Visiting Friends and Relatives 43 2
Education 12 3
Business 10 4
Seminar/Conference/Training 8 5
Medical Treatment 4 6
Other: Work 1 7

The passengers’ purposes for travelling are presented in table 4 using frequency and

ranking. The findings above revealed that leisure is the leading reason why the passengers travel.

Almost half of the respondents claim to travel in order to visit friends and relative. Ranked third,

fourth, fifth and sixth are the purposes like education, business, seminar as well as medical

treatment. It was also found that work was the least common reason why the respondents at

NAIA travel.

Empirical data suggests that traveling by plane is getting more expensive every year.

Thus it is imperative for tourists and other plane passengers to have a source of income, a job or

a business for them to afford the cost of travel (Bhat & La Mondia, 2011). Similarly, according

to Lamb (2020), relatively few unemployed people have shown willingness to travel due to the

cost it takes when onboard a plane.

 II. PREDOMINANT FACTORS
Table 5. Factors influencing the Passenger’s Choice among Low-Cost Carriers
Factors WEIGHTED SD VERBAL
MEAN DESCRIPTION*
Promo
I am usually influenced by the marketing strategy of the airline. 3.05 0.81 Moderately Influential
I think that promo offerings are valuable. 3.61 0.69 Highly Influential
In-flight promotions entice me to fly in their airline (free upgrades, 3.70 0.99 Highly Influential
complimentary baggage allowance, access to exclusive airline lounges,
and more).
Overall Weighted Mean and SD 3.28 0.83 Highly Influential
Perceived Safety
Safety system is the most significant factor that I consider when buying an 3.71 0.57 Highly Influential
airline ticket.
I only use the airline that has a good reputation on its safety system. 3.53 0.73 Highly Influential
I believe that low cost airlines have a good safety system. 3.20 0.77 Moderately Influential
Overall Weighted Mean and SD 3.48 0.69 Highly Influential
Flight Availability
The number of flights is the main reason that influences me to choose a 2.98 0.82 Moderately Influential
low-cost airline.
The flight availability offered by low-cost airlines meets my expectation 3.12 0.73 Moderately Influential
(Destination, Flight Route).
I am satisfied with the timing and flight schedule provided by low-cost 3.43 0.82 Highly Influential
airlines.
Overall Weighted Mean and SD 3.15 0.79 Moderately Influential
Service Quality
I consider the pre-flight services provided by a low-cost airline important 3.43 0.67 Highly Influential
(Ease of booking, Baggage Capacity).
I am satisfied with the in-flight service quality provided by the low-cost 3.29 0.82 Highly Influential
airlines. (Cabin cleanliness, Food and Beverages, Sitting arrangement and
Sit space).
Overall service quality of low-cost airlines is important to me. 3.57 0.62 Highly Influential
Overall Weighted Mean and SD 3.43 0.70 Highly Influential
Loyalty Reward
I think that Loyalty Reward by airlines is one of the main reasons that 2.72 1.73 Moderately Influential
influence me to use airline service.
I chose to purchase a ticket because of the bonus and rewards points from 2.59 1.05 Moderately Influential
the airline.
I buy tickets from an airline because of the benefits of the flier program. 2.51 0.97 Moderately Influential
Overall Weighted Mean and SD 2.61 1.03 Moderately Influential
Airline Image
I usually perceive good information about low-cost airlines (Word of 3.11 0.86 Moderately Influential
Mouth Marketing / Referral from friends and family).
I believe that low-cost airlines have a good reputation. 3.17 0.74 Moderately Influential
I think that low-cost airlines have a good public republic reputation. 3.12 0.82 Moderately Influential
Overall Weighted Mean and SD 3.13 0.81 Moderately Influential
GRAND WEIGHTED MEAN AND SD 3.18 0.81 MODERATELY
INFLUENTIAL
*Range of Values Interpretation
1.00-1.75 Not Influenced
1.76-2.50 Slightly Influenced
2.51-3.25 Moderately Influenced
3.26-4.00 Highly Influenced

Table 6 presents the factors influencing the passenger’s choice among low-cost carriers.

Six factors were included in this study, to wit; promo, perceived safety, flight availability,

service quality, loyalty reward and airline image. In terms of airline promo, an overall mean of

3.28 was obtained indicating that the said factor is highly influential. The highest mean was

yielded by the item pertaining to the enticing features of in-flight promos. On the area of

perceived safety, the respondents also considered the factor as highly influential. The findings

revealed that safety system is the most significant factor that I consider when buying an airline

ticket. Flight availability is moderately influential for the respondents as it has yielded an overall

mean of 3.15. The passengers have reporting their satisfaction with the timing and flight

schedule provided by low-cost airlines. In terms of service quality, an overall mean of 3.43 was

obtained indicating that the said factor is highly influential. This also indicates that the

passengers are satisfied with the services afforded to them by low-cost carriers, and that their

expectations for their airline experience have been met. Loyalty reward, on the other hand, is

considered by the respondents as moderately influential in choosing low-cost carriers. Bonuses

and reward points as a result of one’s loyalty is important to passengers. Finally, airline image is

also found to be moderately influential in the choice of low-cost carriers. For the respondents, a

good reputation is of great importance on why they choose such airline. Taken together, it can be

noted that among the factors included, passengers perceived safety of the flight is on top of the

list. This factor yielded that highest overall mean of 3.48 indicating its high influence on

passenger choices. Ranked second and third are service quality and airline promos, respectively.
 These factors were also found to be highly influential with weighted means of 3.43 and

3.28. Ranked fourth, fifth and sixth are the factors such as flight availability, airline image and

loyalty reward, respectively. The aforementioned factors are considered moderately influential to

the choices passenger make among low-cost carriers. All standard deviation values revealed that

the data are homogeneous in nature. Hence, the values evenly spread out and are close to the

center of the distribution (Cohen, 2011).

For Valkenburcht (2013), many people feel uncomfortable prior to and during their flight,

ranging from uneasiness to total panic. Taking this into account, it is interesting to note that

passengers consider safety as a critical factor when they book their ticket. Earlier research has

been performed on the elements that affect service quality and how this affects satisfaction of

passengers. From literature it is known that assurance, responsiveness, empathy, reliability, and

tangibles, contribute to the quality of service as perceived by flight passengers. Similarly,

according to Taylor and Francis (2014), perceived safety poses a significant influence on the

choices and satisfaction of people who travel for pleasure. This implies that airlines should

continue emphasizing safety features at travelers. Consequently, although initially perceived as

extremely important, many airlines are turning to their loyalty programs in response to the

pressure brought about by the pandemic. This explains why loyalty rewards is at the tail end of

the ranking (Chun & Boer, 2021).

III. HYPOTHESIS TESTING

Table 6. Difference in the Factors when Respondents are grouped based on Profile

Variables Overall Test p- value Decision*

Weighted Statistic
Mean
Age
18-24 3.23
25-34 3.21 4.191 <0.01 Reject H0
35-44 3.17
45-54 3.15
55-64 3.16
Gender
Male 3.23
Female 3.16 3.039 0.028 Reject H0
Type of Travel
Domestic 3.18 1.273 0.776 Accept H0
International 3.19
Purpose of Travel
Leisure 3.19
Visiting Friends & Relatives 3.17
Education 3.18 2.306 0.914 Accept H0
Business 3.16
Seminar/Conference/ Training 3.2
Medical Treatment 3.19
Work 3.15
* Based on an Alpha value of 0.05

Table 6 presents the results of the hypothesis testing using Kruskal-Wallis for age and

purpose of travel while Mann-Whitney U Test for gender and type of travel. An alpha level of

0.05 is used as basis for the acceptance or rejection of the study’s hypothesis. The findings above

revealed p-values greater than the alpha level for type of travel (U=1.273) and purpose of travel

(H= 2.306). This signifies that there is no significant difference in the factors that influence

passengers in choosing among low-cost carriers when they are grouped according to their

demographic profile. This has led the researchers to accept the null hypothesis of the study.
 This finding seems to agree with Shiwakoti (2021) wherein the purpose of travel had

been found to have no effect on passenger’s perception on cost-related travel factors. On the

other hand, a p-value of <0.01 and a test statistic of 4.191 was yielded for the respondents’ age.

Also, the passengers’ gender yielded a p-value of 0.028 and a test statistic of 3.039. These

findings revealed that the factors influencing passengers in choosing among low-cost carriers

significantly differ when they are grouped according to age and gender. Taken together, the

researchers of this study have rejected the null hypothesis at the same time accepting the

alternative hypothesis. For Sundling (2015), travel behavior and reaction change in older

travelers. As a person ages he/she becomes less likely influenced by cost-related travel factors as

more emphasis is given on comfort and convenience. For gender, Meng and Uysal (2008) have

found that ssignificant gender differences exist about the perceived factors related to the cost of

travel. While men tend to prefer comfort, females have been observed to lean on the economical

and practical side.