The long-awaited direct flights between India and the Philippines could soon become a reality as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) holds a dialogue with Air India to discuss the alluring potential.
In a statement, CAAP shared that its officials met with executives of India’s flag carrier at the agency’s central office in Pasay City on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The meeting focused on the application process for establishing direct air service between the Philippines and India, which is projected to boost tourism and trade relations between the two countries.
CAAP, the agency responsible for implementing policies on civil aviation operations, stated that the meeting served as an opportunity for Air India to learn the necessary procedures and regulatory requirements for securing flight approvals.
For its part, CAAP underscored its commitment to streamlining the approval process while ensuring compliance with global safety and operational standards.
The agency has so far outlined the necessary documentation, technical requirements, and other key elements of the application, which include potential routes, frequencies, and logistics.
Both CAAP and Air India affirmed a mutual commitment to work together to make direct flights between India and the Philippines into reality.
According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), around 79,000 Indian travelers visited the country in 2024.
India ranked 13th in terms of foreign visitors in the Philippines last year.
Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shri Harsh Kumar Jain said last month that the direct flights between the two nations will likely start this year.
Aside from Air India, low-cost carrier IndiGo is also eyeing nonstop flights to the Philippines.
The DOT said recently that Manila is not the only destination for such flights, noting that Cebu and Clark are also under discussion.
To entice more visitors from the South Asian country, the government recently launched the e-Visa system for Indian nationals.
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), an attached agency under the DOT, is also planning to ramp up promotions for the Philippines in trade shows and business missions in India.