Air passenger fares are expected to increase until April 30, 2026 after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the fuel surcharge from Level 8 to Level 19 for both domestic and international flights.
In an advisory, the CAB said the higher fuel surcharge will apply from April 16 to 30, 2026, replacing the earlier lower rate set for April 1 to 15.
Under Level 19, domestic flight fuel surcharges will range from about ₱627 to ₱1,834 depending on distance, while international flights will carry surcharges from around ₱2,070.77 to ₱15,395.15.
For cargo, airlines may charge ₱3.22 to ₱9.43 per kilogram for domestic shipments and ₱10.65 to ₱79.15 per kilogram for international cargo under the new rate.
The CAB is also enforcing a shorter 15-day pricing cycle for fuel surcharges instead of the usual monthly adjustment, as a temporary measure to better respond to fuel price changes. This replaces parts of an earlier policy issued in 2022.
The agency said the move is meant to reduce the impact of rising fuel costs on both passengers and airlines. The temporary system will stay in place until fuel prices stabilize or the policy is changed or lifted.
Airlines are required to file applications with the CAB before charging fuel surcharges, and they cannot exceed the approved Level 19 rates.
Fuel surcharges are optional fees added by airlines to help cover fuel expenses, especially during periods of rising oil prices.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), jet fuel prices averaged $184.63 per barrel as of April 17, 2026—more than double or about 105% higher than the same period last year.
