Air travelers may see a modest easing in ticket add-on costs this June as the government reduces airline fuel surcharges for the first half of the month.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has lowered the fuel surcharge level from Level 15 to Level 13 for the period covering June 1 to 15, 2026, reflecting a slight drop in the additional fees airlines are allowed to collect to offset fuel price fluctuations.
Under the new level, domestic passengers may be charged fuel surcharges ranging from P423 to P1,237, depending on flight distance. International travelers, meanwhile, may see additional fees ranging from P1,396.74 to P10,385.42.
The adjustment offers a modest reprieve compared to the previous Level 15, where domestic surcharges ranged from P491 to P1,436, while international charges reached as high as P12,056.
Fuel surcharge is an additional fee layered on top of base airfare, designed to cushion airlines from the impact of volatile global oil prices that directly affect operating costs.
CAB continues to implement its 15-day adjustment cycle for fuel surcharge levels, a system designed to reflect shifting fuel market conditions while softening sudden spikes in travel expenses.
The interim mechanism remains in place and may still be adjusted or withdrawn depending on prevailing economic conditions.
Airlines that intend to impose or collect fuel surcharges for the upcoming period are required to file applications with the Office of the Executive Director before the effectivity window begins.
For June 1 to 15, CAB also set the applicable exchange rate at P61.45 to the US dollar, which serves as basis for computing international charges.
While the reduction does not remove the surcharge entirely, it signals a slight downward adjustment in one of the components that quietly shape the final price of every plane ticket.
Photo by Kaiser Jan Fuentes
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