The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) announced on Tuesday that the fuel surcharge for airlines will decrease from Level 18 to Level 15 for the period of May 16 to 31, 2026. This three-notch reduction aims to ease the financial burden on passengers amid fluctuating oil prices.
New Fuel Surcharge Rates
Under Level 15, domestic flight surcharges will range from PHP491 to PHP1,436, depending on the distance. For international flights, the surcharge will be between PHP1,621.42 and PHP12,056. This is a significant drop from the current Level 18 rates, which range from PHP593 to PHP1,734 for domestic routes and PHP1,958.44 to PHP14,561.87 for international flights.
Understanding Fuel Surcharge
Fuel surcharge is an additional fee airlines collect on top of the base fare to cover costs arising from oil price volatility. The CAB implements a 15-day price monitoring and implementation cycle for fuel surcharge imposition to mitigate the impact of fuel price surges on air travel costs.
Interim Measure and Application Process
The interim measure will remain in effect until the current situation stabilizes, or as may be revised or revoked. Airlines intending to impose or collect fuel surcharges must file their applications before the effectivity period. The applicable conversion rate for May 16-31 is PHP61.18 to the US dollar, as stated by the CAB.
This adjustment is expected to provide relief to travelers, especially as the industry continues to recover from economic challenges.
