The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has approved a slight reduction in airline fuel surcharges for flights from May 1 to 15, 2026, as global jet fuel prices begin to ease after hitting record highs in April.
In an advisory dated April 27, CAB said the fuel surcharge level for both passenger and cargo flights—domestic and international—will go down to Level 18, from Level 19 used in the previous period (April 16 to 30).
Under Level 18, fuel surcharge for domestic passenger flights will range from P593 to P1,734, depending on distance. For international flights, it will range from P1,958.44 to P14,561.87.
For cargo, airlines may charge P3.05 to P8.92 per kilogram for domestic shipments and P10.07 to P74.86 per kilogram for international cargo.
CAB is currently using a 15-day monitoring and adjustment cycle for fuel surcharges instead of the usual one-month system. This temporary change is meant to better respond to rapid fuel price movements and ease pressure on both passengers and airlines. It also temporarily suspends parts of CAB Resolution No. 25 (2022).
The agency said the measure will stay in place until fuel prices stabilize or until it is revised or lifted.
Airlines must file applications with CAB before charging the surcharge, and rates cannot go beyond the approved level.
The fuel surcharge is an optional fee used by airlines to recover fuel costs when prices rise sharply.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global jet fuel averaged $179.46 per barrel as of April 24, 2026, down 2.3% from the previous month but still nearly double (up 99.3 percent) compared to last year.
