Three weekly flights to Delhi and four to Mumbai are planned from December 2026
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is preparing to strengthen its India network with new nonstop services from Manila to New Delhi and Mumbai, opening additional direct links between the Philippines and two of India’s major commercial and cultural centres.
The flag carrier plans to operate three weekly flights to Delhi and four weekly services to Mumbai from December 2026, subject to approval from the Indian government. PAL announced the plans on September 25.
The new routes are intended to provide travellers with direct access between the Philippines and India while also creating connections through PAL’s Manila hub to destinations across Asia-Pacific, North America and Australia.
Three flights a week to Delhi
The proposed Manila–Delhi service will operate as PR642, departing Manila every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:40pm and arriving in Delhi at 3:00am the following day.
The return service, PR643, will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing Delhi at 8:15am and arriving in Manila at 5:00pm. All times are local.
Delhi’s position as India’s national capital and a gateway to the country’s northern regions makes the route relevant to both leisure and business travellers. PAL said the service is designed to support growing travel and commercial links between the two countries.
Four weekly flights to Mumbai
PAL’s proposed Mumbai service will operate four times a week.
Flight PR646 will depart Manila every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 10:40pm, arriving in Mumbai at 3:05am the following day.
The return flight, PR647, will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, leaving Mumbai at 7:15am and reaching Manila at 5:00pm.
Mumbai, India’s financial and commercial capital and a major centre for entertainment and culture, will become the second Indian destination in PAL’s planned network.
Airbus A321neo operations
Both routes are scheduled to be operated using PAL’s 168-seat Airbus A321neo.
The aircraft will feature 12 lie-flat Business Class seats and 156 Economy Class seats, with PAL planning a full-service onboard product including meals, entertainment and other services.
The airline said the service will include meal options suited to Indian travellers, including vegetarian and Jain choices.
For Indian travellers, the new services will provide a direct alternative to one-stop journeys between India and the Philippines, while passengers travelling beyond Manila will be able to connect with PAL’s wider network.
Manila as a connecting hub
Through Manila, passengers from Delhi and Mumbai will have onward connections to Philippine destinations including Cebu, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Davao.
PAL’s wider international network also provides connections to destinations including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Honolulu, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Tokyo Haneda and Hong Kong.
The new routes therefore have significance beyond point-to-point travel, positioning Manila as an intermediate hub for traffic moving between India and destinations across PAL’s international network.
PAL President Richard Nuttall said the expansion would create additional opportunities for travel and commercial activity between the two countries.
- “Opening services to Delhi and Mumbai strengthens PAL’s network in one of Asia’s most dynamic economies.”
Nuttall said the routes would support travel between the Philippines and India while providing access to PAL’s wider network.
Additional cargo connectivity
Although the routes are primarily being introduced as passenger services, PAL also expects the new flights to strengthen air cargo connectivity between India and the Philippines.
The airline said cargo moving from India will be able to connect through Manila with its wider domestic and international network.
The additional belly-hold capacity could provide another option for shipments moving between India and the Philippines, as well as for cargo requiring onward connections through Manila.
For tourism and business markets, the combination of direct passenger services and additional cargo connectivity gives the new routes a wider commercial dimension.
Supporting India–Philippines travel
The proposed services come as PAL looks to expand its presence in one of Asia’s largest travel and economic markets.
For Filipino travellers, Delhi and Mumbai provide access to India’s major tourism, business and cultural centres. For Indian travellers, the services create a direct route to Manila and onward access to destinations across the Philippines and PAL’s international network.
The airline has also highlighted India’s role as an increasingly important market for the Philippines, with the new routes intended to support both tourism and business travel.
PAL said Filipino passport holders can use India’s e-Visa programme, subject to the applicable entry requirements.
Services remain subject to approval
The December launch remains subject to Indian government approval, meaning the proposed schedules should not yet be treated as fully confirmed operating services.
PAL has nevertheless published the proposed flight numbers, frequencies and timings and its booking system is already displaying December 2026 availability for Manila–Delhi and Manila–Mumbai itineraries.
If approved and launched as planned, the services will establish direct air links between Manila and both Delhi and Mumbai, while adding capacity for passenger and cargo flows between India, the Philippines and PAL’s wider network.
