MANILA— Philippine Airlines (PR) will resume nonstop flights between Manila (MNL) and Delhi (DEL) and introduce its first direct service to Mumbai (BOM) in December 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
The carrier plans three weekly flights to Delhi and four weekly services to Mumbai, expanding air links between the Philippines and India.
The new routes will connect Manila with two of India’s largest cities and give passengers another option for travel between the two countries.
The expansion comes as Philippine Airlines adds capacity while Air India (AI) continues its nonstop Manila service from Delhi and prepares to operate a Boeing 787 on the route from late October.
Philippine Airlines Eyes India Flights
Philippine Airlines will operate the Manila-Delhi route three times a week.
The outbound service, PR642, is scheduled to leave Manila on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:40 p.m., arriving in Delhi at 3 a.m. the following day.
Return flights, operating as PR643, will depart Delhi on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The schedule will provide a direct link between the Philippine capital and northern India without requiring passengers to connect through another Asian hub.
Philippine Airlines’ New Route Details
The Mumbai service will operate four times weekly, making it Philippine Airlines’ first nonstop connection to India’s financial capital.
PR646 will depart Manila on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10:40 p.m., reaching Mumbai at 3:05 a.m. the next day.
The return PR647 service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Both routes will use the airline’s 168-seat Airbus A321neo, configured with 12 lie-flat Business Class seats and 156 Economy Class seats.
There is Demand for India-Philippines Flights
Philippine Airlines is positioning the new services around growing passenger, business, and cargo movement between India and the Philippines.
The carrier will offer Indian-inspired meals, including vegetarian and Jain options, along with beverage choices and entertainment tailored toward Indian travelers.
The flights will also add cargo capacity, allowing shipments from India to connect through Manila with Philippine Airlines’ wider domestic and international network.
PAL President Richard Nuttall said the routes would support travel and commercial links while giving passengers access to destinations across Asia, North America and Australia, The Hindu BusinessLine reported.
Demand from India has increased following the Philippines’ introduction of visa-free entry for eligible Indian nationals.
The Philippine tourism sector recorded 60,583 Indian visitors in the first six months of 2026, representing a 43.03% year-on-year increase.
The new PAL services will therefore add capacity to a market where nonstop connectivity is already expanding.
Air India launched Delhi-Manila flights in October 2025 and currently markets daily nonstop connectivity, while Philippine Airlines’ December launch will add a second carrier on the Delhi-Manila market and create a new direct Mumbai-Manila option.
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