Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed strong government support to accelerate IndiGo Airlines’ plans to expand their operations in the Philippines next year.
This, as Frasco, who also serves as Vice Chairperson of the country’s Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), met with the executive of India’s IndiGo as part of the activities of the Cabinet Secretary who traveled with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to his State Visit to India.
According to its website, IndiGo is India’s largest passenger airline, boasting a fleet of more than 400 aircraft, operating 2,300 daily flights, connecting more than 130 destinations, and welcoming 118 million customers on board in 2024.
During the meeting with IndiGo’s Senior Vice President Vinay Malhotra, Frasco emphasized the Philippines’ openness and commitment to tourism growth under the Marcos administration, highlighting the President’s push for generational reforms “to enhance the climate for travel”.
The tourism chief pushed for the establishment of direct flights from India to the Philippines.
“No less than our President has communicated the government’s desire to expand connectivity to the Philippines.”
“No less than our President, by way of these structural changes that he is making to make the climate for travel from India to the Philippines truly flourish, has communicated the government’s desire to expand connectivity to the Philippines,” the tourism head noted.
Malhotra shared the airline’s ambitious expansion plans, including the upcoming deployment of long-haul aircraft capable of direct flights from India to the Philippines’ key gateways: Manila and Cebu.
“The Philippines is definitely on our radar.”
In response to the proposal of Frasco to introduce nonstop flights from India to Manila and Cebu, according to Malhotra, “the Philippines is definitely on our radar”.
Malhotra noted the airline’s impressive fleet growth—with one new aircraft added weekly and over 1,000 on order—positioning IndiGo as a vital player in boosting regional and global connectivity.
The Indigo executive said they are looking at the Philippines “very, very positively,” adding that the airline is eager to include the Philippines in its expansion strategy, alongside destinations such as Seychelles, Mauritius, and Bali.
“These are very encouraging remarks from your end, and I am very pleased to know of your forthcoming plans, not only for Manila, but also for Cebu,” Frasco replied.
Among the commitments she made to strengthen regional air connectivity between the two countries is offering coordination, providing inputs on partnerships, and joint marketing efforts.
The meeting also acknowledged India’s recent announcement of free e-visas for Filipinos, a move welcomed by the Philippines as the country first launched the same efforts in a bid to boost Indian tourist arrivals into the country.
Frasco had earlier said that India now has evolved into a promising and important source of international visitor arrivals following the implementation of the visa-free policy for Indian nationals and the start of five times a week direct flights from New Delhi to Manila by Air India on October 1, 2025.
