The increase in flights to the Philippines, cradle of the underground river of Puerto Princesa – one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the world, is due to a remarkable recovery of its air market and the signing of new international agreements.
The main local and foreign airlines have added more options to connect the world with the archipelago, highlighting the following recent movements in 2026:
– Connection with the Middle East and Europe: An air service agreement signed with Turkey doubled the weekly frequencies between Istanbul and Manila, from 7 to 14 flights.
In addition, this pact opens the door for international airlines to add unlimited landing rights in secondary airports of the country, facilitating the arrival of tourists from various parts of the globe without saturating the capital.
– Increase in long-distance routes (North America): Key airlines in the region such as Philippine Airlines have consolidated their international network by adding frequencies to strategic destinations such as Vancouver (from 7 to 10 weekly flights), Toronto and New York, opening a new direct route from Manila to Chicago at the end of the year.
– General recovery and internal demand: According to data from the Philippine aviation regulator, total passenger traffic has already exceeded the maximum levels recorded before the pandemic. Low-cost airlines, such as Cebu Pacific and AirAsia, are expanding their fleet and capacity to meet the growing demand for both domestic and connectivity routes in Southeast Asia.