THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has approved reduced fuel surcharges for domestic and international flights in October due to lower jet fuel prices. In an advisory, the CAB said passenger and cargo fuel extra fees for domestic and international flights would go down to Level 4 effective October 1 to 31 from Level 5 in September. Under Level 4, the fuel surcharge for domestic flights ranges between P117 and P342, depending on the distance, while international flights may charge from P385.70 to P2,867.82. For cargo surcharges, airlines are allowed to bill P0.60 to P1.76 per kilogram for domestic flights and P1.98 to P14.74 per kg for international flights. "Airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharge must file its application with CAB on or before the effectivity period, with fuel surcharge rates not exceeding the above-stated level," CAB said. The air transport agency clarified that airline fuel surcharge is an optional fee, imposed and collected by airlines to recover losses from increases in fuel cost. Fuel surcharges, CAB explained, are not part of basic airfare and may be reduced or removed, based on prevailing jet fuel prices in the market. According to the International Air Transport Association's Jet Fuel Price Monitor, average jet prices stood at $84.25 per barrel as of September 13, down by 10 percent from last month and lower by 25 percent from the same period last year.