Here's Why Plane Tickets Will Be More Expensive in March

(SPOT.ph) Planning a trip for the summer? You better book your plane tickets now, as airfares are set to increase next month.

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) of the Philippines has announced an increase in fuel surcharge levels for both domestic and international flights from Level 6 in February to Level 7 in March under Resolution No. 25.

With fuel surcharge at Level 7 in two weeks’ time, we can expect the fees to range from P219 to P739 for domestic flights and P722.71 to P5,373.69 for international flights depending on the distance. The last time the Philippines was at Level 7 was in December 2023 when flights were likewise in high demand due to the holidays.

Airlines like Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have expressed their commitment to mitigate its effect on passengers through promotions, seat sales, and expanded flight offerings. Nevertheless, Cebu Pacific President Xander Lao is encouraging travelers to “book their travels ahead of time to avail of low fares.”

The reason for higher fuel surcharge in March 2024

PHOTO BY Shutterstock

You might have noticed while finalizing an airline booking that the base fare is often compounded by additional taxes and surcharges; one of the non-negotiables of the latter includes fuel surcharges.

Fuel surcharges are extra fees that airlines charge to cope with the changing costs of jet fuel. They are on top of the ticket price but can go up or down based on how much fuel costs at a particular time. As jet fuel is behind a significant portion of an airline’s operating expenses, regulatory bodies like the CAB help airlines stay financially stable when fuel prices become unpredictable.

CAB reviews jet fuel prices on a monthly basis to determine the fuel surcharge level for the following month. Airlines are then notified of the change.