Philippine Airlines is working to bring back flights to India, more than seven years after putting the plan on hold in 2019 because of airspace tensions between India and Pakistan. The carrier, led by the Lucio Tan group, has asked the Civil Aeronautics Board for extra flight rights under the air services deal between the Philippines and India. Right now, the two countries permit up to 28 weekly flights between major cities like Manila and New Delhi, and unlimited trips to smaller airports on both sides.
PAL first ran a Manila-Delhi route from 2011 to 2013, though most flights then needed costly stops in Bangkok as its aircraft did not have enough range for direct trips. The proposed return was expected to lift tourism for both nations before the suspension. India became the 11th largest source of foreign visitors to the Philippines in 2025, sending 104,994 arrivals, a rise helped by the government’s visa-free entry for eligible Indian tourists that started in June that year.
The airline is also increasing flights to Japan for the upcoming winter season starting late October. Manila-Tokyo Narita and Manila-Osaka Kansai services will go from 14 to 21 weekly trips each from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, while Manila-Sapporo flights will rise from three to five a week from November 24, 2026, to February 27, 2027. These changes will bring PAL’s total Japan operations to as many as 87 weekly flights, keeping its place as the Philippine carrier with the most routes and destinations in the country, including services from Cebu to Narita and Osaka.
For North America, PAL will add more trips starting late 2026. Manila-Vancouver flights will go from seven to 10 a week starting November 17, Manila-Toronto services will rise from three to four weekly from December 5, and Manila-New York JFK flights will increase from three to four a week starting December 2, with an extra fifth flight during the peak December 2026 to January 2027 holiday period.
