{
  "id": 10486379,
  "title": "Airfares soaring to new highs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/airfares-soaring-to-new-highs",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-28T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Philippine Star Business",
    "slug": "philippine-star-business",
    "url": "https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/09/29/2559569/airfares-soaring-new-highs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Filipinos preparing to book their holiday flights in October are set to face higher airfares, with some traveling costs potentially increasing by nearly P14,000. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has announced a new fuel surcharge hike, raising the level to 17 for flights between October 1 and 15. This marks the highest fuel surcharge since the Level 18 was applied in mid-May, a sign that jet fuel prices have not normalized following the US and Israel's attack on Iran in February.\n\nUnder Level 17, airlines can collect a fuel surcharge of between P559 and P1,635 for domestic flights, while international services may impose an additional fee ranging from P1,846.10 to P13,726.58. Travelers heading to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand will face an additional P2,553.19, while those going to Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea will pay P2,871.83 extra. The most substantial fuel surcharge will be for transpacific trips, costing passengers P8,018.94 to reach Honolulu and P13,072.93 to travel to North America.\n\nThe highest fuel surcharge will be applied to Manila flights to General Santos at P1,635, with locally-bound trips to Cotabato, Davao, and Zamboanga having the second-highest surcharge of P1,524. The CAB has instructed airlines to submit an application for the fuel surcharge before October and has advised carriers dealing in foreign currencies to use an exchange rate of P62.71 to $1 when computing their fuel surcharges.\n\nAccording to the International Air Transport Association, jet fuel prices have risen by 24 percent on a monthly basis to $194.90 per barrel as of September 18. With no peace deal in sight in the Middle East, prices are expected to continue fluctuating. Last week, US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's offer for a ceasefire as Tehran attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz temporarily. Historically, October marks the beginning of peak air travel demand, as Filipinos embark on holiday trips for All Saints and Christmas breaks.",
  "summary": "Filipinos booking their holiday flights in October will find themselves paying more – some by as much as nearly P14,000 – as the government approved a new round of fuel surcharge hike.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}