Cebu Pacific has canceled and reduced several international flights as fuel prices surge amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 24, the airline said global fuel prices have “more than doubled compared with 2025 averages,” prompting it to adjust operations to manage rising costs.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the country’s jet fuel supply remains stable, with inventory averaging 38 days. She added that current levels are “not yet alarming.”
Flight disruptions will start on April 13, with some adjustments running until October 25.
Cebu Pacific will suspend several routes, including Davao–Bangkok, Iloilo–Bangkok, Iloilo–Singapore, and Clark–Hanoi.
It will also cut frequencies on key routes. Cebu–Singapore and Manila–Kuala Lumpur flights will drop from daily to five times weekly, while Manila–Jakarta services will decrease from seven to four times weekly.
Selected Manila–Melbourne and Manila–Sydney flights will also operate less frequently on specific dates.
The Civil Aeronautics Board has raised the fuel surcharge level from Level 4 to Level 8, describing the move as temporary.
Under the new rates, domestic surcharges will range from P253 to P787, up from P117 to P342. International surcharges will increase to P835.05 to P6,208.98, depending on distance—about 116 percent higher than previous levels.
Cebu Pacific held a 56 percent domestic market share in 2025, up from 54 percent in 2024. Its international share also grew to 22 percent from 20.6 percent.
Before the adjustments, the airline operated 63 destinations—37 domestic and 26 international—with about 3,200 weekly flights.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.