CHINA’S Xiamen Airlines has launched direct flights between Manila and Hangzhou amid its push to spice up air connectivity between the Philippines and China, the Department of Tourism (DoT) said.
The route will operate 4 times weekly — every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday — until Oct. 31, the DoT said in an announcement on Wednesday.
“The route connects Manila to one among China’s leading centers for innovation and technology and is predicted to support not only tourism exchanges but additionally business and investment opportunities,” the DoT said.
XiamenAir also recently launched its Chongqing-Manila flights, which can operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday until Oct. 31.
This was followed by the launch of Qingdao Airlines’ inaugural Changsha-Manila flights on May 21. The route will run every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday until Oct. 24.
This route is predicted to offer Filipinos with greater access to Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, which is thought for its history, cultural attractions, and cuisine.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines’ latest direct flights to China, a significant tourism market, would help expand opportunities for tourism growth.
“We’re accelerating the restoration of air connectivity from China because we recognize that this market stays one among the Philippines’ biggest opportunities for tourism growth,” she said.
China stays among the many Philippines’ leading source markets in 2025, accounting for 4.56% of total visitor arrivals.
The Philippines has also launched latest and resumed routes from Manila and Cebu with destinations including San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and Paris, the DoT said.
In the primary five months of the yr, the Philippines recorded 30,729 international flight arrivals, up 4.71% from the identical period in 2025, the DoT said.
The Philippines also recorded 7.78 million international air seats for direct inbound flights, 8.31% higher than last yr. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz