30/05/2025
INDUSTRY LOOKOUT: MANILA, Philippines โ Air travelers may see cheaper fares in June after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) slashed fuel surcharges to their lowest level on record.
In an advisory issued Wednesday, the CAB downgraded fuel surcharges from Level 4 to Level 3, applying to both domestic and international flights starting June 1.
Under Level 3, domestic passengers will pay between โฑ83 and โฑ300 in fuel surchargesโdown from โฑ117 to โฑ342 under Level 4. International surcharges will range from โฑ273.36 to โฑ2,032.54, compared to the previous โฑ385.70 to โฑ2,867.82.
Fuel surcharges are fees collected by airlines on top of base fares to help offset fuel costs.
Passengers flying to Caticlan, Legazpi, Kalibo and Roxas will be charged โฑ133, while those headed to Laoag, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu and Puerto Princesa will pay โฑ179. Longer routes like Dumaguete and Siargao carry a โฑ234 surcharge, and flights to Davao and Zamboanga cost โฑ271.
For international travel, fees start at โฑ273.36 for routes to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Flights to Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are at โฑ378.06, while those to Japan and South Korea reach โฑ425.24. Long-haul flights to Australia and the Middle East are charged โฑ940.59, and routes to North America and the UK will carry a โฑ1,935.75 surcharge.
Local carriers continue to expand capacity. Cebu Pacific expects delivery of seven new aircraft this year after adding 17 in 2024. Philippine Airlines is awaiting 13 Airbus A321neo aircraft from 2026 to 2029.
Top destinations include Japan, Vietnam, Boracay, and Siargao.
