Cebu Pacific seeks OK for fuel surcharge hike

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is set to charge more for tickets to several key regional destinations to offset higher costs due to rising fuel prices.

Documents from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed that Cebu Air Inc., operator of the Gokongwei-led carrier, wanted an increase in fuel surcharge for flights from Manila to Kansai International Airport-Japan’s hub in Osaka.

From the current $45 per passenger, Cebu Air wants its fuel surcharge to Osaka to increase to $55.

The airline said it would impose a new surcharge for flights to Denpasar, which is Indonesia’s gateway to popular tourist destination Bali. If approved, every passenger will have to pay a surcharge of $65 each for flights from Manila to Bali, and vice versa.

Today, only flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has flights to Bali. Cebu Pacific has yet to start flights to Bali. The country’s leading budget carrier only has flights to Jakarta for its Indonesian operations.

The company also wants to increase its fuel surcharge per passenger for the Cebu to Pusan, South Korea, route to $45 from $25.

Fuel surcharges are paid on top of basic ticket prices. These help airlines cope with the volatile price of fuel, which takes up the lion’s share of airlines’ expenses.