The Philippines and Türkiye are set to deepen their economic and tourism ties after reaching a new air connectivity agreement that will double flights between Manila and Istanbul while opening more opportunities for services from other Philippine gateways.
The agreement was reached during the Philippines–Türkiye Air Consultation Talks in Istanbul, where Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Turkish Civil Aviation Director General Prof. Dr. Kemal Yüksek signed a Memorandum of Understanding expanding the countries’ bilateral air services arrangement.
At the heart of the agreement is a doubling of Manila–Istanbul flight capacity, from seven to 14 flights a week. This means travelers will have two flights a day between the two cities, giving passengers greater flexibility in choosing when to travel.
But the expanded agreement goes beyond the additional Manila flights. The two countries also agreed to allow unlimited flight frequencies from secondary gateways, including Cebu and Davao, as well as Clark and other airports.
The move could give Philippine travelers greater access to Istanbul, one of the world’s major aviation hubs. From Türkiye, passengers can connect more easily to destinations across Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the Western world. At the same time, travelers from those markets will have more options for reaching the Philippines.
For the tourism sector, the expanded air links could help attract more visitors from Türkiye and beyond while making Philippine destinations more accessible to European and Middle Eastern travelers. Increased connectivity could also support business travel, trade and other people-to-people exchanges by making travel between the two countries more convenient.
The agreement is also expected to create a more competitive aviation market. With airlines given greater room to add flights and operate through additional gateways, travelers could benefit from more choices and potentially more competitive airfares.
Lopez said the agreement reflects the importance of cooperation and balanced negotiations between the two countries.
“As partners, we have always demonstrated that constructive dialogue, mutual respect, and a willingness to understand each other’s perspectives are the foundations of successful negotiations,” Lopez said, expressing confidence that the outcome would benefit both countries.
Yüksek likewise described the expanded air services agreement as an important step in the broader relationship between Türkiye and the Philippines. He said the deal could strengthen trade and tourism links while helping deepen institutional ties between the two countries.
For the Philippines, the agreement comes as the government seeks to make international air travel more accessible while strengthening the country’s position as a regional aviation and tourism destination.
More direct and connecting flight options could ultimately mean shorter and more convenient journeys for travelers, while giving airlines greater opportunities to serve new markets.
With Manila–Istanbul services expanding and secondary Philippine gateways opened to unlimited frequencies, the agreement provides both countries with a wider aviation corridor—one that could translate into stronger tourism flows, greater commercial activity and closer ties between their people.
The Philippine delegation included officials from the DOTr, Civil Aeronautics Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara and Philippine Airlines. Türkiye was represented by officials from its Air Transport Department, civil aviation authorities, Turkish Airlines and iGA Istanbul Airport.