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Fuel surcharges just doubled. Here’s how to soften the hit on your budget

Sep 1, 2026 · 2 min readBy KasKasan Buddies

The CAB raised fuel surcharges to Level 19 for flights from April 16 to 30, increasing ticket costs for domestic and international travelers.

  • If you're flying before the end of April, your ticket just got more expensive.
  • The Civil Aeronautics Board raised the fuel surcharge level from Level 8 to Level 19 for flights between April 16 and 30, which is more than double the previous rates.
  • For domestic flights, fuel surcharges now range from ₱627 to ₱1,834.

The CAB raised fuel surcharges to Level 19 for flights from April 16 to 30, increasing ticket costs for domestic and international travelers.

  • If you're flying before the end of April, your ticket just got more expensive.
  • The Civil Aeronautics Board raised the fuel surcharge level from Level 8 to Level 19 for flights between April 16 and 30, which is more than double the previous rates.
  • For domestic flights, fuel surcharges now range from ₱627 to ₱1,834.

If you're flying before the end of April, your ticket just got more expensive.

The Civil Aeronautics Board raised the fuel surcharge level from Level 8 to Level 19 for flights between April 16 and 30, which is more than double the previous rates.

For domestic flights, fuel surcharges now range from ₱627 to ₱1,834. 

For long-haul international routes like flights to North America, the surcharge jumped from ₱5,913 to ₱14,664.

This follows an earlier increase from Level 4 to Level 8 in the first half of April, driven by rising fuel costs tied to the conflict in the Middle East. Philippine Airlines has already applied Level 19 surcharges for domestic tickets issued or re-issued on or after April 18.

The CAB says this is temporary and will be revised once the situation stabilizes, but with only a few days left in April, the extra cost is very much in play.

One way to cushion the hit: pay for your flights with a travel rewards or cashback credit card. You won't cancel out the surcharge, but you do earn back on every peso you spend, including the fees.

Use the KKB App to find the best travel credit card for your next booking. 👇

https://www.kaskasanbuddies.com.ph/download?source=web 

Know someone with a flight booked this month? Share this with them so they know what to expect. 

Source: Rappler, April 22, 2026 | Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). Verify the latest surcharge levels with your airline before booking.