Air travelers in the Philippines are bracing for a significant financial impact as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has implemented a steep increase in fuel surcharges, pushing them to Level 19. This adjustment, effective since mid-April, has nearly doubled the additional costs passengers must pay on top of their base airfares.
"This interim measure shall be in effect until the current situation stabilizes, or as may be revised or revoked accordingly," stated the CAB in its recent advisory.
For domestic flights, the surcharge now ranges from ₱627 to ₱1,834, a jump of over 140% from the rates applied earlier in the month. International travelers face an even steeper climb, with surcharges reaching as high as ₱15,397 per ticket, also reflecting an increase of nearly 150%.
The sharp rise is directly tied to volatile global jet fuel prices, which have surged to approximately $184 per barrel—a stark contrast to the $99 per barrel average before recent geopolitical tensions escalated. Compared to pre-conflict levels, the current surcharge represents a staggering 436% increase.
Airlines, including AirAsia Philippines, have acknowledged the move as a necessary response to mounting operational costs. The CAB's framework allows these surcharges to be optional and applied on top of base fares, with provisions to remove them if fuel prices drop below a specified threshold. With Level 20 set as the maximum allowable tier, the current charges are now approaching that ceiling, leaving little room for further increases without regulatory adjustments.