PAL cuts fuel surcharge on domestic travel

Philippine Airlines (PAL) will reduce its fuel surcharge on domestic travel by P100 per round-trip flight effective Oct. 23 as the price of crude oil in the world market eases up.

PAL executive vice president Henry So Uy said the move is intended to pass on the benefit of lower fuel costs to the flying public.

"We are sharing with our passengers whatever benefits are due as in terms of fuel-cost savings. This is one way of giving back, however modest, to our loyal customers," Uy said.

Oil has shed more than a quarter of its value since peaking at $78.40 per barrel in mid-July as global inventories swell and supply concerns wane. The price fell to $58.27 per barrel during Tuesday’s trading in London.

PAL said that should the cost of fuel ease up further, it will adjust its fuel surcharge accordingly.

For flights between Manila and points in Luzon (Laoag, Legazpi and Naga), the surcharge drops from P800 to P700 per round-trip flight.

For flights between Manila and points in Visayas (Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tacloban and Tagbilaran), the surcharge decrease from P1,140 to P1,040 per round-trip flight.

For flights between Manila and points in Mindanao (Butuan, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, Davao, General Santos and Zamboanga), the surcharge falls from P1,600 to P1,500 per round-trip flight.

Uy noted that PAL already had a fare structure that is very competitive in the domestic market even before the fuel-surcharge rollback.

The airline offers a wide range of promotional fares (with limited seats) that is available to the public, including five-day advance purchase fares to nearly all PAL domestic points that feature discounts of as much as 81 percent off normal rates.

These fares can be purchased online through www.philippineairlines.com or through travel agents.