Markus Castro
MANILA — Yang Yan, a 39-year-old traveler from Hangzhou, China, used to start her trips to the Philippines with a three-hour trip to Shanghai, then catch a connecting flight to Manila. As a regular visitor, she had become used to the extra travel time.
Now, she no longer has to.
XiamenAir launched its inaugural Hangzhou–Manila service on May 20, marking another milestone in the continued expansion of air connectivity between the Philippines and China. The route, including return flights from Manila to Hangzhou, will operate four times weekly—every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday—until October 31, 2026.
“It’s not my first time in Manila, but it’s my first time flying direct from Hangzhou to Manila, so it feels very convenient for us. The flight only takes around three and a half hours,” Yan shared.
More air seats, more tourism opportunities
With nearly 99 percent of international visitor arrivals entering the Philippines by air, expanding seat capacity remains critical to attracting more travelers and sustaining tourism growth.
Under the Department of Tourism’s NTDP 2023–2028, enhancing accessibility and connectivity remains a top priority for the government to boost tourism. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is actively working to expand international air routes and strengthen bilateral partnerships to promote travel and economic cooperation.
From January 1 to May 19, 2026, the Philippines recorded 7,779,012 international air seats for direct inbound flights, reflecting an 8.31 percent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The Hangzhou service forms part of a broader expansion of direct air links from China. On May 16, Qingdao Airlines launched its inaugural Changsha–Manila route, followed by XiamenAir’s inaugural Chongqing–Manila service on May 21.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the continued expansion of direct connectivity reflects the government’s broader strategy to accelerate recovery in the Chinese market and unlock greater opportunities for tourism growth.
“Under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are accelerating the restoration of air connectivity from China because we recognize that this market remains one of the Philippines’ biggest opportunities for tourism growth. Visitor arrivals from China have already posted the strongest growth among our major source markets this year, supported by expanded direct services and measures that have made travel more accessible.
At the same time, recovery remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Current seat capacity from China has recovered to only about half of 2019 levels, while visitor growth is already outpacing the pace of capacity restoration. This tells us that the challenge is no longer demand alone – it is our ability to convert that returning interest into actual travel through sufficient, reliable, and commercially sustainable access,” said the Tourism Chief.
Qingdao Airlines’ maiden Changsha–Manila flight arrived in Manila carrying 56 passengers, while the outbound Manila–Changsha service departed with 170 passengers onboard. The route will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday until October 24, 2026.
Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, is known for its rich history, cultural attractions, and distinctive cuisine, providing the Philippines with greater access to travelers from central China.
Meanwhile, XiamenAir’s inaugural Chongqing–Manila flight arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) carrying 74 passengers, while the outbound service departed with 97 passengers. Flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday until October 31, 2026.
One of China’s largest metropolitan centers, Chongqing is recognized for its multilayered urban landscape, modern infrastructure, and rapidly expanding consumer market.
The inaugural Hangzhou–Manila flight arrived with 76 passengers onboard, while the outbound Manila–Hangzhou service departed carrying 122 passengers. The route connects Manila to one of China’s leading centers for innovation and technology and is expected to support not only tourism exchanges but also business and investment opportunities.
The DOT noted that the Chongqing service marks the 33rd direct international route launched to the Philippines since the beginning of 2025, underscoring continued growth in international connectivity.
China remained among the Philippines’ leading source markets in 2025, accounting for 4.56 percent of total visitor arrivals.
Beyond China, the Philippines has also expanded international connectivity through new and resumed routes linking Manila and Cebu with destinations including San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and Paris.
Across Asia, expanded connections now serve key markets such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand, with international flights reaching not only Manila but also Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Bohol, Kalibo, Caticlan, and Davao.
From January 1 to May 19, 2026, the Philippines recorded 30,729 international flight arrivals, representing a 4.71 percent increase from the same period in 2025—another indicator of sustained momentum across the country’s aviation and tourism sectors.
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