May fuel surcharge cut, but airfares stay high
Daily TribunePhilippine air travelers will see only slight relief in early May as the Civil Aeronautics Board trims fuel surcharges from Level 19 to 18, keeping airfares elevated despite lower add-on fees for domestic and international flights.
Photograph by John Carlo Magallon for DAILY TRIBUNE
Air travelers will get slight relief in the first two weeks of May, but flying costs remain elevated as fuel surcharges stay near historic highs.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on Tuesday lowered the fuel surcharge to Level 18 for 1 to 15 May from Level 19 in the second half of April, trimming the extra fees airlines may pass on to passengers.
The reduction will modestly ease ticket costs, though the charges remain significant.
At Level 18, passengers will pay P593 to P1,734 for domestic flights and P1,958.44 to P14,561.87 for international trips originating from the Philippines.
These are slightly lower than Level 19 rates of P627 to P1,824 for domestic routes and P2,070.77 to P15,397.15 for international travel.
“Airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharge for the same period must file their application with this Office on or before the effectivity period, with fuel surcharge rates not exceeding the above-stated level,” the CAB said in its advisory.
The CAB is also tightening its pricing response by shifting to a 15-day adjustment cycle from the previous monthly review, citing persistent volatility in jet fuel prices.
The shorter window is meant to cushion the impact of rapid cost swings on both airlines and passengers.
Fuel surcharge is an optional fee, separate from the base fare, that airlines may charge to recover costs from fluctuating jet fuel prices.