PAL, Cebu Pac lift fuel surcharge

MANILA, Philippines - Local carriers led by national flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) and budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) yesterday vowed to comply with the government directive on the removal of fuel surcharge on the airline tickets of both international and domestic passengers.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said in a statement that the Lucio Tan-owned airline would comply with the directive issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) disallowing the imposition of fuel surcharge on airline passengers.

“We have carried out the necessary procedural and system adjustments in view of this latest call from government. Rest assured that PAL will always bear in mind the welfare of our customers and the traveling public,” he said.

According to Bautista, PAL recently received a directive from the CAB to cease imposing fuel surcharges citing current oil prices in the world market.

For his part, Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs Jorenz Tanada said the budget airline has removed fuel surcharge in airline tickets last Jan. 9 in compliance with the directive of CAB.

“Cebu Pacific has complied with the CAB resolution and has implemented the removal of fuel surcharges effective Jan. 9,” he said in a text message.

Taipan John Gokongwei owns Cebu Pacific and low cost carrier Tiger Airways Philippines.

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla earlier warned that the government would not hesitate to impose sanctions on domestic and foreign airlines that would continue to impose fuel surcharge on passengers.

He said the regulator has already issued a memorandum that called for the implementation of the lifting of all authority to impose fuel surcharge on international and domestic flights effective Jan. 8.

“All fuel surcharge imposition approved by CAB are deemed revoked, hence no fuel surcharge shall be collected from tickets sold from January 8 onwards,” Arcilla said.