MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned of “a distinct possibly” of aircraft being grounded due to an impending shortage of jet fuel brought by the war in the Middle East.
In an interview with Bloomberg News released on Tuesday, Marcos lamented how “long haul is going to be a much more serious problem” in the near future, adding to the already very heavy burden of the Philippines grappling with the high prices of petroleum products and basic commodities.
“Several countries have already told our airlines they cannot fuel their aircraft, so they have to carry fuel there and back,“ he said.
“We’re hoping not, but it’s a distinct possibility,” he added.
Hostilities in the Middle East have triggered the closure of airspaces and travel hubs in the region including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, which have left tens of thousands of passengers stranded. This also ultimately caused oil prices to spike in the global market.
Apart from the threat of aircraft grounding, air travelers in the country will also be slapped with higher airfares starting next month.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) recently announced that flights booked from April 1–15, 2026 will see a significant airfare increase due to the its lifting the fuel surcharge to Level 8. This means an additional of up to ₱6,200 to ticket costs.
Domestic surcharges will range from ₱253 to ₱787, while international rates will rise to ₱835.05–₱6,208.98, driven by high jet fuel prices. This 15-day cycle is meant to manage extreme fuel price volatility.
