COVID-19 changed the dynamics of the travel industry, causing a sharp decline in demand. This paper intends to identify the factors influencing Philippine Airlines` booking intention in Metro Manila amidst the pandemic. It adopts an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior, incorporating the impact of safety perception and refund credibility towards Theory of Planned Behavior variables, specifically Attitude towards Behavior (ATB), Subjective Norms (SN), and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC). It also extends to evaluating the impact of Brand Credibility in driving the booking intention of the consumers. This paper used a quantitative research design with the survey as the critical measurement tool. Path model coefficients, identified using SmartPLS 3.0, were used to confirm the hypothesized direct effects in the model. Findings affirm the positive effect of safety perception on all TPB constructs. Refund credibility, on the other hand, only predicts SN and PBC. It also presents the positive influence of all Theory of Planned Behavior variables on Brand Credibility. Finally, only brand credibility is found to influence booking intention significantly. The results of this study thus present valuable insights for the airline industry to consider. It poses an opportunity for airline marketers to regard the heavy influence of safety perception, refund the credibility of this pandemic, and manage the value of social groups and resources to brand perception. More importantly, this study presents the significant role of Brand Credibility in driving booking intention amid the pandemic, presenting a positive outlook for the overall airline industry to recover from the financial impact of COVID-19. Future studies may use a cross-airline analysis or cross-country analysis to broaden the perspective on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the booking intention of travelers.
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