CAB hikes fuel surcharge for March

FILE: Cebu Pacific aircraft at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – Airfares may go up next month as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) announced that the fuel surcharge for March 1 to 31 will increase to Level 7 from Level 6 in February.

Under Level 6, the fuel surcharge ranges from PHP610.37 to PHP4,538.40 for international flights, and from PHP165 to PHP665 for domestic destinations, depending on the distance.

The increase in surcharge will have an impact on the fares, according to AirAsia Philippines head of Communications Steve Dailisan.

Depending on the distance per kilometer, he said an additional PHP201 to PHP690 fuel surcharge for domestic travel and additional PHP1,053 to PHP1,827 for international flights originating from the Philippines, may be reflected on the ticket fares.

“The increase in jet fuel prices may be driven by the demand brought about by the reopening of other key markets which can also be taken with sheer optimism in terms of global economic recovery post-pandemic,” Dailisan told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Both low-cost carriers AirAsia and Cebu Pacific (CEB) remain committed to making travels more attainable, especially during peak seasons.

“Despite the uptick in fuel surcharge, Cebu Pacific remains committed to providing great value to our passengers through our seat sale activities,” CEB President Xander Lao said when sought for a comment.

Lao added that the airline is encouraging travelers to book their tickets ahead of time to avail of low fares.

Dailisan said they are confident that the “slight increase” in fuel surcharge will have little or no significant effect on the booking behavior among their guests whom he said could rely on best-value deals using the carrier’s app.

CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, in an advisory signed on Feb. 21, said airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharge must file their application with his office on or before the effectivity period.

The applicable conversion rate is USD1 to PHP54.63, he said.