Air India Flies MNL

Flight Begins 1 October

8 June 2025

India's national flag carrier Air India has announced on Wednesday the launch of non-stop flights between Delhi and Manila from October 1, 2025, connecting the capitals of India and the Philippines for the first time in over a decade.

The Tata group airline will operate AI2362 five days a week every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, using its newly ordered 180 seater Airbus A321neo aircraft with a three-class cabin configuration featuring business class, premium economy, and economy classes, leaving DEL at 1320 arriving MNL Terminal 1 at 2240. Return flight A2361 leaves Manila at 2340 arriving Delhi at 0340 the next day.

This comes after the Philippines recently introduced visa-free entry for Indian tourists for up to 14 days, joining Thailand and Malaysia.

“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.” Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, of Air India said,

Data from the tourism department of the Philippines disclosed that the number of Indian nationals who visited the archipelago in 2024 grew 12.4 per cent year-on-year to almost 79,000. The number was around 53 per cent higher than 2022 levels.

Non-stop flights between India and the Philippines were last operated in 2013 by Philippine Airlines, when the carrier suspended the service due to low demand. 

PAL Appoints New President

25 April 2025

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), has appointed British national Richard Nuttall, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sri Lankan Airlines, as its new President, effective May 29, 2025.

Nuttall will be the first foreign President for the national carrier as it aims to accelerate the airline’s international expansion and drive for  “sustainable growth.”

“Appointing Richard Nuttall to Philippine Airlines is an important part of our medium-term and long-term strategy of building a robust management team and growing our business internationally,” said PAL Holdings President and Chief Operating Officer Lucio C. Tan III.

“I am confident that he will create and develop sustainable growth for PAL,” PAL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lucio C. Tan said.

PAL said the company’s current president and chief operating officer (COO), Stanley K. Ng, will assume a new role as vice-president of PAL Holdings, Inc. and a member of the company’s board of directors.

PAL said Mr. Ng’s appointment at its parent company is expected to provide the flag carrier with strategic direction and vision in bringing the airline to a new level of service and profitability.

Further, PAL said its general counsel, Carlos Luis L. Fernandez, will also take on a new role as executive vice-president and chief operating officer effective May 29. 

Industry sources stated that Nuttall joining PAL is viewed as crucial in positioning PR for greater global competitiveness and strategic partnerships as the airline prepares its modernization strategy and route expansion plans coupled with operational excellence.

Scoot Flies SIN-ILO

16 April 2025

Singapore Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, has launched on April 14 its inaugural direct flight operation from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Iloilo International Airport (ILO). The flights will be operated by Embraer E-190-E2 jet. Scoot flew flight TR-373 arriving Iloilo International Airport at 7:18 AM with 107 passengers on board. Scoot has scheduled Singapore-Iloilo and vice versa flights twice a week every Monday and Wednesday initially but will operate four times weekly beginning June by adding Friday and Sunday, with daily operations by October. This is the 3rd destination of Scoot in the Philippines outside of Manila, following Cebu and Davao.

• Singapore to Iloilo City via TR374: Leaves Singapore at 2 am, arrives in Iloilo by 5:35 am
• Iloilo City to Singapore via TR375: Leaves Iloilo at 6:10 am, arrives in Singapore by 9:45 am

 

Air Canada Arrives In Manila

Flies 3x Week 

 3 April 2025

Air Canada inaugurates its flight to Manila as it flies AC17, a Boeing B787-900 (C-FVNB) from Vancouver, arriving 6:00 am. at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It will fly thrice a week initially for summer schedule increasing to 4 weekly flights soon. Manila is Air Canada’s 12th destination in Asia Pacific and the 3rd Southeast Asia destination following Singapore and Bangkok.

Sunlight Adds New Plane

 17 January 2025

Clark-based Boutique airline Sunlight Air has added a new turboprop from French manufacturer ATR, as it upgrades and expands its inter-island route this year.

The airline said the new ATR 72-600 will be stationed at Manila for Busuanga, Caticlan and Siargao flights, as it grow its fleet to four. It currently operates three 72-500s operating from its hub in Clark, Manila and Cebu.

The 72-600 offers seating capacity of up to 68 passengers. Sunlight selected the aircraft for fleet commonality and to update its old fleet with new ones for better efficiency and low carbon emission compared to the old ones.

Sunlight flies from Manila, Clark and Cebu, heading to Busuanga, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Puerto Princesa, San Vicente, Caticlan and Siargao.

CAAP sets delayed P12.4-B Aviation Infra upgrades

10 January 2025

By Joel E. Zurbano
Manila Standard

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is investing ₱10.6 billion for civil works and ₱1.8 billion for equipment and system upgrades in several domestic airports this 2025 particularly in Mindanao. 

These initiatives align with CAAP’s mission to modernize aviation infrastructure and enhance the country’s global competitiveness in the aviation sector.

The announcement was made during the pilot episode of the Department of Transportation’s “Sakay Na” program hosted by Executive Assistant to the Secretary Jonathan Gesmundo on Radyo Pilipinas.

CAAP Director General Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo and Deputy Director General for Administration Danjun Lucas highlighted the government’s commitment to improving airport facilities, increasing operational efficiency, and ensuring a safer, more seamless travel experience.

Key priorities for 2025 include upgrading domestic airports of Cauayan in Isabela, Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte, and Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur for night operations. This will allow more safe and efficient flight activity during the evening to meet the growing demands for air traffic.

Additionally, Bukidnon Airport is on track to begin operations for general aviation this year, creating a vital gateway for local travel and trade in the region.

“Our goal is to make the Philippine skies safe. We aim to prevent accidents and incidents as much as possible,” stated Captain Tamayo, underscoring CAAP’s commitment to aviation safety.

These modernization efforts are expected to boost tourism and trade, enhance airport operations, and improve the overall passenger experience. In the long term, they aim to support economic growth by fostering stronger connectivity throughout the archipelago.

2025 Aviation Infrastructure Program Revised At Bicam

Pag-Asa Airport in Palawan topped 2024 PH airport expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 January 2025

Congress has revised the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP) on Aviation Infrastructure Program prior to enactment of 2025 General Appropriations Act in December 2024 to reflect a reduction of budget from 12 billion pesos to around ₱7.7 billion to upgrade 15 airports across the country, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.

In a press statement, Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said the ₱7.7-billion funding for the Aviation Infrastructure Program will be used to construct, rehabilitate, and improve runways, taxiways, ramps, control towers, passenger terminals, and to acquire navigational equipment.

Under the 2025 General Appropriations Law, funding for New Dumaguete Airport was reduced, but Tacloban Airport project will still receive the largest share of ₱2.3 billion, followed by ₱1.65 billion for Pag-asa Island Airport, and ₱1 billion for Busuanga Airport.

"We are counting on these upgrades to enhance the overall air travel experience for passengers, attract more tourists, support the growth of small businesses, and create new jobs," Campos said.

Other allocations include ₱750 million for Laoag International Airport, ₱360 million for Bacon Airport in Sorsogon City, ₱280 million for Virac Airport, and ₱250 million for construction of Candon City Airport in Ilocos Sur.

The New Dumaguete Airport, New Manila International Airport, and Camotes Airport in Camotes island will each receive ₱200 million, while Camiguin Airport is allocated ₱180 million. Dumaguete, Camotes and Camiguin are foreign tourists destinations.

The New Zamboanga International Airport, Central Mindanao (M’lang) Airport, Panglao Airport, and Bukidnon Airport will get ₱130 million, ₱100 million, ₱52.1 million, and ₱50 million, respectively.

“These allocations are fully itemized in the 2025 budget,” Campos said.

 

The airport appropriations reflect the political affiliations of elected leaders in the Marcos government, with the President hailing from Ilocos, Senate President from Sorsogon, and Speaker of the House from Tacloban.  

Budgets for new airports are Bukidnon, Bacon, Candon, and Camotes, while the big new ones are Manila, Zamboang, Dumaguete, and Camiguin.

Only the airports of Laoag, Tacloban, Panglao, Busuanga, and Virac are served with regular passenger traffic by airlines.

 

2025 Airport Development Projects

 December 31, 2024

AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
PPP - Concession Agreement to Develop, Operate & Maintain
AIRPORT	Total Costs (US$ Million)	OPERATOR
New Manila	12,917.05	San Miguel Aerocity Inc.
NAIA	2,995.58	New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC)
Panglao	260.22	Aboitiz InfraCapital
Sangley	3,787.32	SPIC DC
Caticlan	44	Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp (TADHC)
Clark	220.37	Megawide-GMR Construction Joint Venture, Inc.
Puerto Princesa	228.2	TBA
Iloilo	675.6	TBA
Bacolod	450.2	TBA
Davao	901.6	TBA
Laguindingan	324.9	Aboitiz InfraCapital
* TBA: To be Announced (Not yet bidded or Awarded)
PPP Center