The Philippines is set to expand air connectivity with Türkiye, doubling Manila-Istanbul flight capacity and creating more opportunities for tourism, trade, and business.
The Philippines-Türkiye Air Consultation Talks concluded in Istanbul on Aug. 13 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Türkiye’s Director General of Civil Aviation Prof. Dr. Kemal Yüksek.
Under the agreement, weekly Manila-Istanbul flights will increase to 14 from seven, allowing airlines to operate up to two daily flights in each direction.
The additional capacity is expected to give passengers more travel options while strengthening commercial and tourism links between the two countries.
The agreement also allows unlimited flight frequencies from secondary Philippine gateways, including Cebu, Davao, and Clark. This could give travelers outside Metro Manila greater access to international destinations while making it easier for foreign tourists and business travelers to reach more parts of the Philippines.
The expanded connectivity is particularly significant because Istanbul is a major aviation hub linking Europe, the Middle East, and other destinations. More flights could make onward travel to these markets more accessible to Filipinos while providing additional routes into the Philippines for foreign visitors and businesses.
Greater capacity could also encourage competition among airlines, potentially giving passengers more choices in fares, schedules, and services.
Lopez said the agreement reflects the importance of constructive dialogue and balanced outcomes between the two countries.
Yüksek described the expanded bilateral air services agreement as a milestone that could strengthen tourism, trade corridors, and institutional ties.
The talks brought together officials from the Department of Transportation, Civil Aeronautics Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, and Philippine Airlines, alongside their Turkish counterparts.
Beyond adding flights, the agreement widens the Philippines’ access to a major international aviation hub. It also gives Cebu, Davao, and Clark greater potential to connect directly with overseas markets, strengthening the country’s prospects for tourism, trade, and business exchanges.
