Manila: Air travelers face a sharp increase in ticket prices for the first half of August after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the allowable flight fuel surcharge to Level 13 from the current Level 8. Under Level 13, the fuel surcharge for domestic flights ranges from PHP423 to PHP1,237, and from PHP1,396.74 to PHP10,385.42 for international flights, depending on the distance.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Level 8 fuel surcharge for July 16-31 costs PHP253 to PHP787 for domestic flights, and PHP835.05 to PHP6,208.98 for international destinations. Fuel surcharge is the extra fee that airlines may collect in addition to the base fare to cover the costs incurred from oil price volatility. CAB has been implementing the 15-day price monitoring and implementation cycle for fuel surcharge imposition to mitigate the impact of fuel price surge on air travel costs.

In a statement on Tuesday, AirAsia Philippines said the rising global jet fuel prices continue to significantly impact its operations. "We continue to find ways to keep travel as accessible as possible without compromising the safety and reliability of flights," it said. The low-cost airline added that under the Level 13 fuel surcharge, passengers throughout its network could expect a surcharge fee of PHP1,237 to PHP10,385.82, depending on the destination.

Meanwhile, the CAB said the applicable exchange rate for fuel surcharges is PHP61.65 per United States dollar.