More airlines seek higher fares

MANILA, Philippines - Three airline companies are seeking an approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to increase fares amid the continued rise in the average price of aviation fuel in the world market.

All Nippon Airways Co.Ltd, Air Busan Co. Ltd, and Zest Airways Inc. (AirAsia Zest) have filed separate petitions before the regulator to impose upward adjustments of fuel surcharge on international passengers.

ANA is set to impose a 7.5 percent increase in fuel surcharge to $86 from $80 per passenger of flights between the Philippines and Japan. It is also set to slap a $170 fuel surcharge for passengers between the Philippines and the US including Hawaii.

On the other hand, ANA’s fuel surcharge on passengers from the Philippines to Canada and Mexico via Japan would remain unchanged.

Air Busan, meanwhile, is seeking to impose a 10 percent increase in fuel surcharge to $55 from $50 on passengers of flights between Cebu and Busan in Korea.

AirAsia Zest, owned by former ambassador Alfredo Yao and AirAsia Inc. Philippines, is seeking the approval of CAB to impose a fuel surcharge on three new international destinations.

AirAsia Zest is planning to impose a P460 fuel surcharge on passengers of flights to Macau and Miri in Malaysia from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and P680 for passengers between Cebu and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

The CAB allows airlines to impose fuel surcharge on international and domestic passengers as a temporary relief to help them recover losses arising from the increase in jet fuel prices in the world market.

Latest results of the Jet Fuel Price Monitor of the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) showed that the price of jet fuel averaged $119.8 per barrel nearing the full year target of $124 per barrel set by IATA.