GURUGRAM- Air India (AI) is increasing capacity on its Delhi (DEL)-Manila (MNL) route from October 25, 2026, while IndiGo (6E) and Philippine Airlines (PR) plan additional services linking India with the Philippines.
More than 60,000 Indians visited the Philippines in the first 6 months of calendar year 2026, with Indian arrivals rising 43% year on year. The growth comes as visa-free access and improved air connectivity support tourism, visiting friends and relatives, and wider India-Philippines travel.
Airlines Step Up India-Philippines Connectivity
The India-Philippines aviation market is moving into a period of expansion as airlines respond to stronger passenger demand and closer economic ties between the 2 countries.
Air India will increase capacity on the Delhi (DEL)–Manila (MNL) route by deploying a 256 seat, twin-class Boeing 787 from October 25. The aircraft is larger than the 188 seat Airbus A321 currently used on the daily service.
IndiGo is seeking approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board of the Philippines to launch flights to the country. According to local media reports, the airline plans services to Manila, the Philippine capital, and Cebu (CEB), a destination known for scuba diving.
Philippine Airlines is also planning to start flights to Delhi and Mumbai (BOM) during the winter schedule. The proposed services would add further options for passengers travelling between India and the Philippines.
Air India currently operates the Delhi-Manila route daily. The airline began the service with five flights a week in October 2025 and later increased it to daily operations.
The move to a larger Boeing 787 comes as passenger volumes have grown in both directions every quarter since the route was launched. According to Ameya Joshi, founder of aviation blog Network Thoughts, load factors on the Manila-Delhi sector have twice reached the low 80s.
Joshi said Manila traffic is particularly weighted towards price-sensitive leisure travellers and passengers visiting friends and relatives. He added that a larger two-class aircraft would allow Air India to pursue that demand more aggressively.
The capacity increase therefore reflects both existing traffic performance and the airline’s opportunity to serve a market where demand has continued to build since the route was introduced.
IndiGo Looks Beyond Manila
IndiGo’s proposed expansion would potentially give Indian travellers another direct airline option to the Philippines.
The airline has sought approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board of the Philippines for new services. Local media reports cited in the original report indicate plans for Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB).
Manila remains central to the India-Philippines travel market, while Cebu could broaden the appeal to leisure travellers seeking destinations associated with diving and other tourism activities.
The addition of Cebu is also relevant to the industry’s wider goal of expanding access beyond a single Philippine gateway. A broader network could support travel from more Indian metropolitan markets and give passengers additional destination choices.
Philippine Airlines Targets Delhi and Mumbai
Philippine Airlines plans to begin services to Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) in the winter schedule.
The proposed expansion would strengthen the direct air link between the two countries from both sides of the market. It would also give Indian passengers another carrier choice on travel to the Philippines.
More flights from Philippine Airlines, combined with Air India’s larger aircraft and IndiGo’s proposed services, would increase the overall amount of available capacity between the two countries.
Visa-Free Access Drives Indian Arrivals
The rise in Indian visitors is a major factor behind the stronger airline focus on the Philippines.
More than 60,000 Indians travelled to the Philippines in the first 6 months of 2026 after taking advantage of the visa-free entry scheme. Indian arrivals increased 43% year on year during the period.
Travel demand is also reflected in higher customer inquiries. Neeraj Singh Dev, Executive Vice President for Domestic and Short-Haul Holidays at Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel, said the company was seeing a marked increase in inquiries for travel to the Philippines.
Dev identified two important drivers: visa-free access for Indian travellers and improving air connectivity. He said connectivity from multiple Indian metros to both Manila and Cebu would broaden access beyond the Delhi market.
The combination of easier entry and more direct flights is therefore supporting both demand and airline expansion.
Strategic Partnership
The aviation growth is taking place alongside stronger bilateral relations. India and the Philippines elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2025.
The two countries are expanding cooperation in digital and defence sectors while also seeking greater trade and investment links. The strategic partnership also provides a broader economic backdrop for increased travel and people-to-people contact.
The stronger relationship matters for aviation because tourism is not the only source of passenger demand. Business travel, trade, investment activity and visits to family and friends can all contribute to sustained traffic between the two markets.
What the Expansion Means for Travellers
The planned changes point to a wider set of travel options between India and the Philippines.
Air India is adding seats on an established Delhi-Manila route. IndiGo is seeking approval for Manila and Cebu services, while Philippine Airlines is planning flights to Delhi and Mumbai.
The expansion could make it easier for travellers from different Indian cities to reach the Philippines directly. It also increases the range of airline and destination choices available to passengers as demand continues to grow.
The developments highlight how visa-free access, rising tourism and stronger bilateral relations are combining with new air services to deepen travel links between India and the Philippines.
The Hindu Businessline first reported the developments, including the airlines’ capacity and expansion plans.
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