THE traveling public should expect costlier airfares in the coming month as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) upgraded the fuel surcharge level for domestic and international flights.
In an advisory, CAB said the passenger and cargo fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights was set at Level 5 for the period March 1 to 31, 2025, up from the current Level 4.
Fuel surcharge is an optional fee, apart from the base fare, that airlines may pass on to passengers to recover costs incurred due to the volatility of jet fuel.
The CAB adjusts fuel surcharges in relation to the price movement of jet fuel.
Under Level 5, passengers will be paying P151 to P542 in fuel surcharges for domestic flights, depending on the flight distance.
For international flights, the surcharge ranges from P498.03 to P3,703.11.
Under the current Level 4, the passenger fuel surcharge ranges between P117 and P342 for domestic flights, depending on the distance, while for international flights originating from the Philippines, the surcharge ranges from P385.70 to P2,867.82.
“Airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharge for the same period must file its application with this office on or before the effectivity period, with fuel surcharge rates not exceeding the above-stated level,” the CAB said.
In a statement, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao said that “despite fuel surcharges increasing in March, they remain committed to offering the best value fares so every Juan can still travel affordably.”
“With summer travel approaching, we encourage our passengers to book early and take advantage of our lowest fares. We look forward to flying every Juan to their much-awaited getaways this season,” said Lao.
AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs head Steve Dailisan advised travelers to take advantage of the airline’s ongoing P1 one-way base fare promo.
“We understand that this change may minimally impact guests’ travel plans; that’s why our Piso Fare promotion is perfectly timed for those looking to save on cost. Despite the adjustments, AirAsia remains fully committed to fulfilling our brand promise of making air travel safe, accessible, and hassle-free for purposeful journeys with family, friends, and loved ones,” said Dailisan. (GMA Integrated News)
