MANILA, Philippines -Airline tickets are set to become cheaper next month, after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) reduced the fuel surcharge that local airlines are allowed to collect.
In a recent advisory, the CAB said the fuel surcharge will be lowered to Level 6 from the current Level 7.
Under Level 6, passengers of domestic flights will pay fuel surcharge of P185 to P665 each while those flying abroad will be charged an additional P610.37 to P4,538.40.
These prices are cheaper compared to Level 7 rates which range from P219 to P739 for domestic routes and P722.71 to P5,373.69 for international flights.
Fuel surcharges are additional fees by airlines to help them recover fuel costs. These are separate from the base fare, which is the actual amount paid by the passenger for his or her seat.
Reduction
Next month, passengers flying from Manila to Caticlan, Legazpi, Kalibo and Roxas will pay a fuel surcharge of P292 while those going to Iloilo, Bacolod, Tacloban and Puerto Princesa will be charged P388.
Applicable fuel surcharge for flights from Manila to Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Surigao and Siargao is P513; and to Zamboanga, Cotabato and Davao, P598. Those booking Manila-General Santos and Clark-Davao flights will shell out additional P665.
Passengers flying from the Philippines to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam will pay a fuel surcharge of P610.37 while those visiting China will be charged additional P828.73.
Airlines will be collecting fuel surcharge amounting to P844.16 from passengers flying to Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia; P949.51, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea; and P2,100.23, Australia and Middle East.
“Any form of reduction in ticket value will not only motivate people to travel but also spur economic activity in the destinations where we fly to,” AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs head Steve Dailisan said.
More affordable
“We welcome this recent development as our flights become even more affordable to our passengers,” Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao said.
Local airlines have been beefing up their aircraft fleet as they target to fully restore their flight capacities for both domestic and international routes. The sector has been banking on the resurgence of passenger movement after strict COVID-19 restrictions grounded flights in recent years.
In addition, the carriers have been resuming previously suspended routes with the easing of border restrictions, including popular destination China.
“We will faithfully comply with the CAB’s fuel surcharge matrix which applies to tickets that will be purchased in April,” Philippine Airlines spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.
READ MORE:
What pricey fuel? Pinoys will still get on their flights