Air links between India and the Philippines are set to expand, with Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo looking to connect the two countries as passenger traffic between the markets grows.
Air India is currently the only carrier flying between India and the Philippines, having started five weekly Delhi-Manila flights late last year before increasing the service to daily to meet demand.
Philippine Airlines, which stopped flying direct between Delhi and Manila in 2011, is also understood to be interested in resuming the service.
Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) COO Margarita Nograles said arrivals from India reached 76,000 from January to August this year, up from 57,000 over the same period last year, supported by visa-free access for Indian travellers and direct flights from Delhi.
Nograles expects the “upward trajectory” to continue, with TPB stepping up B2B activities, business missions and joint promotions, including its recent participation at the Outbound Travel Mart in Mumbai. India is among 14 key markets being targeted by TPB.
Although IndiGo did not specify routes in its application to the Civil Aeronautics Board, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said initial routes under consideration would connect Mumbai and Manila, followed by direct services from Mumbai and Delhi to Cebu.
“The routes would link the Philippines directly into IndiGo’s domestic India network and its Middle East routes, positioning the Philippine hubs as onward-connecting points for Indian outbound trade, business and cargo traffic,” said the DTI in a statement supporting IndiGo’s plans.
Joe Fijardo, Goa-born general manager of Grand Westside Hotel, which will be renamed Mövenpick Manila Bay Westside, said the Philippines’ other draws for Indian travellers include visa-free access, improved connectivity, widespread use of English, a combination of city and island destinations, and a time difference of two-and-a-half hours.
