Airfares are expected to fall in the second half of August, as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) lowers allowed fuel surcharge levels following reduced jet fuel costs.
In an official advisory, the CAB confirmed passenger and cargo fuel surcharges for all domestic and international flights will drop to Level 12 from August 16 to 31, down from Level 13 applied between August 1 and 15.
Under Level 12, passenger fuel surcharges run between ₱389 and ₱1,137 for domestic trips based on route distance, and ₱1,284.40 to ₱9,550.13 for international routes. For cargo, allowed rates are ₱2.00 to ₱5.85 per kilogram on domestic flights, and ₱6.60 to ₱49.09 per kilogram on international services.
The CAB has also switched to a 15-day review and adjustment cycle for the surcharges, replacing the usual one-month schedule. This temporary change suspends parts of CAB Resolution No. 25 (2022), and will stay in place until market conditions stabilize or until updated or cancelled. The measure is designed to ease cost pressures on passengers while supporting airline operations.
Any airline planning to collect fuel surcharges must submit an application to the CAB before the start of the applicable period, and may not charge rates higher than the published limits. Fuel surcharges are set by carriers at their discretion to offset rising fuel expenses and related losses.
As of August 7, global jet fuel prices averaged $149.93 per barrel, a month-on-month rise of just 1.4 percent, according to the International Air Transport Association.
