Travellers will soon bid goodbye to layovers in other countries.
In an announcement posted on its website last Wednesday, June 4, South Asian carrier Air India bared its newest route network expansion.
The airliner will soon be launching a non-stop, direct flight between Delhi and Manila on October 1, 2025, becoming the only carrier to do so.
Air India’s service to Manila will operate on an Airbus A321neo aircraft for five days a week, with schedules on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The plane will feature a three-class cabin configuration that offers Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class.
The inbound Delhi-Manila flight will depart the Indira Ghandi International Airport (DEL) at 1:20 pm (local time) and arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) at 10:40 pm (Philippine time).
Meanwhile, the return Manila-Delhi service will leave MNL at 11:40 pm (PHT) and arrive in DEL at 3:50 am (local time), the following day.
According to Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, “The introduction of our Delhi-Manila route is a yet another step in our mission to connect India with more of the world, non-stop. As outbound travel from India grows at an unprecedented pace, with Indian tourists ranking among the highest spenders globally, the new entry rules for Indian tourists are a shot in the arm to boost tourism to the Philippines.“
“We are happy to facilitate new opportunities for cultural exchange and economic collaboration between the two nations, while bringing the new Air India to more travellers around the world,” added the CEO.
aThe Philippines recently implemented visa-free entry for Indian tourists for up to 14 days. This, coupled with the new Air India direct link, could potentially increase the 80,000 Indian visitor count logged by the Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) in 2024.
According to the Indian Embassy in Manila, the bilateral trade between India and the Philippines, which reached USD 3.53 billion in 2023-24, nearly doubling from its USD 1.89 billion worth back in 2015-16.