The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) (Tuesday, August 16) slashed down local carriers' fuel surcharge rates from Level 12 to Level 9, effective September, bringing hope of cheaper air tickets and more travel bookings.
Airlines are allowed to pass on higher fuel costs to passengers via fuel surcharges - additional fees imposed on top of the base fare, the actual cost of each passenger seat.
Under the CAB resolution, the airlines' fuel surcharge on domestic passengers will go down from yhe current P389- P1,137 to P287-P839 per per person.
For international flights, the fuel surcharge goes down from P1,284.40-P9,550.13 to P947.39-P7,044.27 per passenger.
Local carriers - Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB) and AirAsia Philippines hailed CAB's move to lower fuel surcharges.

"We welcome this positive development and we will carry out the corresponding adjustments in our fuel surcharges. The new fuel surcharge rate will be applicable to tickets that will be purchased in September," stated PAL Spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.
“We look forward to the lower fuel surcharge which should help make fares more affordable and stimulate air travel,” noted Xander Lao, CEB chief commercial officer.
“This will benefit many of our guests who are now planning their travels in time for the -ber months,” according to Steve Dailisan, spokesperson for AirAsia Philippines.