IndiGo Applies for PHL Services, Boosting Bilateral Ties

India's leading low-cost carrier IndiGo has applied with regulators to offer direct flights to the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. The airline, through its parent InterGlobe Enterprises, has filed its application with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to operate routes from Mumbai and Delhi to Manila. The DTI has pledged its full support to InterGlobe in its application process, including regulatory assessments, slot allocation, inter-agency coordination, and investment facilitation. Trade Secretary Maria Cristina A. Roque stated the department's commitment to facilitating the airline's commercial requirements, coordinating with relevant bodies, and fostering strategic partnerships with local carriers for a seamless launch. The DTI also offered to facilitate potential General Sales Agency (GSA) agreements and codeshare deals between InterGlobe and Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. The expansion of air services between the Philippines and India is expected to boost bilateral trade, investment, and tourism. The new routes would link the Philippines directly into IndiGo's extensive domestic Indian network and its Middle East routes, positioning Philippine hubs as onward-connection points for Indian outbound trade, business, and cargo traffic. These discussions took place during a meeting between Secretary Roque and InterGlobe executives in New Delhi. Beyond aviation, potential collaborations were explored in enterprise technology and artificial intelligence (AI) through InterGlobe's AI unit AIONOS, as well as business-to-business express logistics in economic zones via MOVIN Logistics and UPS. Opportunities in pilot training through InterGlobe's joint venture with CAE and hospitality asset partnerships with local conglomerates were also discussed. Separately, the DTI announced it had secured approximately $66.78 million (around P4 billion) in potential new investments and expansions from Indian technology and manufacturing firms, including Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., HCLTech, VVDN Technologies Private Ltd., and Hinduja Group.