Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced on 28 September that it will resume services to India from December 2026, operating Manila–Delhi thrice weekly and Manila–Mumbai four times weekly with Airbus A321neo aircraft. The schedules are timed to connect seamlessly with PAL’s daily flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, creating a new one-stop option for travellers moving between Australia and India. The carrier last served Delhi in 2011 and has never flown to Mumbai. Country manager Krystle Ramirez-Gastrock said the decision responds to growing VFR (visiting-friends-and-relatives) and small-business demand following the signing of the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement and the full restoration of India’s e-Visa programme for Australian passport holders. For corporates, the route offers a competitive alternative to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Middle-Eastern hubs. PAL’s lie-flat business-class product could appeal to SME executives seeking full-service amenities without the price-tag of Gulf carriers. The airline also plans to leverage belly-hold capacity for perishables and pharma shipments between Australia and India, trans-shipping through its Manila cargo hub. Travel managers should note that transits under eight hours in Manila’s Terminal 1 do not require a Philippine transit visa, but longer layovers may trigger entry formalities. Introductory fares will go on sale next week once Indian regulatory approval is confirmed. PAL’s expansion adds approximately 2,300 weekly seats into the Australia–India market and underscores the competitive jostling expected as airlines target the rapidly growing corridor for both leisure and business mobility.
Source: Travel Weekly
