Air travelers and shippers will face higher transport costs next month after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the fuel surcharge level for domestic and international flights amid climbing jet fuel prices.
In its latest advisory, the regulator moved the surcharge bracket to Level 17 for the November 1‑15 period, up from Level 16 applied from October 16‑31. Under the new tier, domestic passenger fuel surcharges run from ₱559 to ₱1,635 based on flight distance, while international passenger surcharges range from ₱1,846.10 to ₱13,726.58. For air cargo, domestic shipments carry a surcharge of ₱2.87 to ₱8.40 per kilogram, and international cargo rates fall between ₱9.49 and ₱70.57 per kilogram.
The CAB has shifted to a shorter 15‑day monitoring and adjustment cycle for fuel surcharges, replacing the usual one‑month schedule and temporarily setting aside parts of CAB Resolution No. 25 (2022). Officials said the change is meant to help both carriers and the public cope with sharp fuel cost increases. The shorter cycle will stay in place until market conditions improve or the board issues a revised order.
Airlines that plan to collect the updated surcharges must first submit their application to the CAB before the start date, and cannot charge rates above the approved Level 17 ceilings. The fuel surcharge is an optional fee that carriers use to offset rising fuel‑related losses.
Citing data from the International Air Transport Association’s Jet Fuel Price Monitor, global jet fuel prices hit an average of $196.70 per barrel as of October 23 — a 6.6‑percent rise from the prior month and a steep jump compared with a year ago.
