Air travel is expected to get a boost this summer amid the lower fuel surcharge this April.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said the passenger and fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights from April 1 to 30 will be at level 6, a notch down from the level 7 implemented in March.
At level 6, passengers who will book flights in April will be subject to a fuel surcharge of only P185 to P665 for domestic flights and P610.37 to P949.51 for international flights, depending on the distance.
Airlines that intend to impose or collect the fuel surcharge for the period must file an application with the CAB on or before the effectivity period.
Local airlines are optimistic travel this summer will pick up further with the lower fuel cost.
“We will faithfully comply with the CAB’s fuel surcharge matrix which applies to tickets that will be purchased in April,” said flag carrier Philippines Airlines (PAL).
PAL urged travelers to explore new destinations and travel experiences as it continues to expand its global flight route network to serve growing passenger demand and support the recovery of tourism and business.
“We welcome this recent development as our flights become even more affordable to our passengers. We believe this will encourage more Juans to travel as the summer months begin. Cebu Pacific is excited to fly more travelers to their dream destinations with our year-round low fares,” said Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific chief commercial officer.
AirAsia Philippines said the lower fuel surcharge is timely as demand for the Holy Week and summer travels pick up, encouraging more people to experience the various tourist destinations in the Philippines and abroad.
“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. Our commitment has never wavered in democratizing air travel despite the volatile pricing of fuel,” said Steve Dailisan, AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs head.
The airline fuel surcharge is an optional fee imposed and collected by airlines to recover fuel costs and stem losses caused by an upward spike in fuel prices. It is not a part of the basic airfare and may be reduced or removed depending on the price of jet fuel in the market.
CAB data showed that air passenger volume reached 32.3 million last year, a significant improvement from 7.7 million passengers that flew in 2021, despite a surge in jet fuel prices that resulted in higher fuel surcharges.
CAB had said the country’s passenger volume growth was driven by a more than fourfold increase in domestic passengers to 22.5 million, from 5.5 million previously. The number of international passengers also grew by 77.6 percent to 9.83 million from 2.2 million in 2021.
