Air India Inaugurates India’s First Direct Flight to the Philippines

Air India has launched new nonstop service between Delhi and Manila, marking the first direct service between India and the Philippines.

Air India Celebrates the Launch of New Service Between Delhi and Manila on October 1st, 2025 - Courtesy Air India

On Wednesday (October 1st, 2025), Air India announced the launch of India’s first ever nonstop flight to the Philippines, with new direct service between Delhi and Manila.  A launch ceremony at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport was attended by H.E. Josel F. Ignacio, Ambassador of the Philippines to India, and Maria Cynthia P. Pelayo, Minister and Consul General, Embassy of the Philippines in India, joined P. Balaji, Group Head – Government, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India, and other senior officials.

In Wednesday’s announcement, Air India’s Managing Director & CEO, Campbell Wilson, said,

“The launch of non-stop flights to Manila unlocks the immense potential for tourism to the Philippines, as Indian travellers, with their growing appetite for leisure travel and increasing spending power, seek new and exciting destinations.  These new services will help showcase the Philippines’ vibrant culture and stunning landscapes to many Indian travellers, while also fostering greater trade and cultural exchange, strengthening the bonds between the two nations.”

Air India's Schedule Between Delhi and Manila - Courtesy Air India

Air India’s new Delhi-Manila route will be operated with and Airbus A321LR configured with three cabins, including Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class.  The carrier is one of the few airlines in Southeast Asia to offer fully lie-flat beds in the single-aisle A321LR aircraft.

Source: Air India