Airfare fuel surcharge to go up in March

Air fares are expected to go up in the coming month after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) upgraded the fuel surcharge level for March.

In an advisory, the CAB said the passenger and cargo fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights was set at Level 6 for the March 1–31 period, up from the current Level 5.

Fuel surcharge is an optional fee, apart from the base fare, that airlines may pass on to passengers to recover costs incurred due to the volatility of jet fuel.

The CAB adjusts fuel surcharges in relation to the price movement of jet fuel.

Under Level 6, passengers will be paying P185 to P665 in fuel surcharges for domestic flights, depending on flight distance.

For international flights, the surcharge ranges from P610.37 to P4,538.40.

Under the current Level 5, the fuel surcharge for domestic passenger flights ranges from P151 to P542 depending on the distance, while for international passenger flights originating from the Philippines, the fuel surcharge ranges from P498.03 to P3,703.11.

“Airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharges for the same period must file [their] application with this Office on or before the effectivity period, with fuel surcharge rates not exceeding the above-stated level,” the CAB said.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific president Xander Lao said that despite the increase in fuel surcharge, “Cebu Pacific will continue to offer great value to our passengers through our seat sales that help keep air travel affordable and accessible.”

“We enjoin our passengers to book their flights ahead of time to take advantage of low fares," said Lao.

Philippine Airlines spokesperson Cielo Villaluna, likewise, said the flag carrier “will adhere to the surcharge matrix set by the CAB slated to take effect next month.”

“We appreciate the continued loyalty and patronage of our passengers,” said Villaluna.

AirAsia Philippines, meanwhile, said it is implementing ways to cushion the effects of volatile fuel prices following “the CAB’s memorandum of an increase in the fuel surcharge for the month of March at Level 6 from this month’s Level 5.” –VAL, GMA Integrated  News