MANILA, Philippines — Air travelers in the Philippines are facing a massive spike in costs as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the passenger fuel surcharge to Level 19 for the second half of April 2026. This new rate, effective from April 16 to April 30, brings charges near the maximum allowable level in the government’s fuel surcharge matrix.
The adjustment marks a staggering jump from the Level 8 surcharge implemented during the first two weeks of April and is nearly five times higher than the Level 4 pre-conflict baseline.
The shift to Level 19 translates to a significant increase in the final price of airline tickets. Under this bracket, passengers will pay the following extra fees:
- Domestic Flights: Fees now range from ₱627 to ₱1,834 per way, depending on the distance. This is a 147.83% increase from the ₱253–₱787 range seen in early April.
- International Flights: Surcharges have surged to between ₱2,074 and ₱15,417 per way.
According to the CAB advisory, the steep hike is a direct response to the “extreme volatility” of global oil prices triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Price Surge: Global jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since late February, reaching an average of $209 per barrel.
- 15-Day Monitoring Cycle: To better reflect these rapid market changes, the CAB has temporarily abandoned its traditional one-month monitoring cycle in favor of a 15-day implementation period. This shorter window allows surcharges to be adjusted faster as fuel costs fluctuate.
The rise in fuel costs is placing immense pressure on local carriers, who have already begun adjusting their operations:
- Cebu Pacific: The budget carrier recently announced the temporary suspension of several international routes (including Davao-Bangkok and Iloilo-Singapore) and reduced flight frequencies across its network to manage rising overhead.
- Philippine Airlines (PAL): While the flag carrier has assured travelers of sufficient fuel reserves for the immediate future, it continues to monitor the situation closely as long-haul flight costs become increasingly difficult to absorb.
- Traveler Sentiment: Industry experts warn that the surcharge hike could dampen the summer travel season, as the added fees often exceed the discounts offered during “piso fares” and other seat sales.
The Level 19 surcharge is currently set to expire on April 30, 2026. The CAB is expected to release an advisory for the first half of May by April 28, which will be based on the average price of jet fuel and the foreign exchange rate from the previous two-week monitoring period.