Airfares are set to increase in the first half of September as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the allowed passenger and cargo fuel surcharge due to rising global jet fuel prices.
In an advisory, the regulatory body announced that the fuel surcharge level for domestic and international flights will escalate to Level 13 for the September 1 to 15 period, up from Level 12 enforced during the second half of August.
Under Level 13, passengers can expect additional charges ranging from P423 to P1,237 for domestic flights depending on distance, and from P1,396.74 to P10,385.42 for international flights. Meanwhile, cargo fuel surcharges are set at P2.17 to P6.36 per kilogram for domestic routes and P7.18 to P53.39 per kilogram for international routes.
To cope with volatile energy markets, the CAB is maintaining an interim 15-day price monitoring and implementation cycle for surcharges, temporarily replacing its standard one-month cycle and suspending parts of CAB Resolution No. 25 (2022). The agency stated the policy aims to mitigate the impact of surging fuel prices on both travelers and airline operations until global conditions stabilize.
Airlines seeking to collect the updated surcharge must file an application with the CAB on or before the effectivity period, with rates capped at Level 13. Surcharges remain optional fees that carriers collect to offset rising jet fuel expenses.
The rate adjustment follows global trends tracked by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which showed jet fuel prices averaging $163.87 per barrel as of August 21, a 13% jump from the previous month.