Nonstop Delhi-Manila – Air Cargo Week
Air India has launched its first non-stop service between Delhi and Manila, opening a direct air cargo bridge between two fast-growing economies. Although the route is primarily framed in terms of tourism and people-to-people exchange, the shipping dimension is crucial. India will export US$700 million worth of medicines to the Philippines in 2024, with bulk medicines, vaccines and formulations dominating the basket.
For these products, cold chain integrity is non-negotiable: a single temperature change can damage entire shipments. Direct air connectivity provides speed and predictability, reducing vulnerability to disturbances in regional hubs.
In contrast, the Philippines’ exports are led by electronics and semiconductors, which account for nearly 60 percent of its total foreign trade, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. India’s expanding electronics manufacturing sector, supported by government incentives under the Production Linked Incentive Scheme, provides a ready market for these imports. This creates a natural two-way trade corridor centered around high-value, low-weight goods well-suited for air freight.
According to WorldACD, air freight volumes between India and the Philippines exceeded 23,000 tons in 2024, most of which was routed through hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok. A direct, non-stop connection could reduce transit time by six to eight hours, providing shippers with an alternative to transhipment to a third country.
South-South trade and supply chain resilience
The importance of this route also lies in broader geopolitical and trade dynamics. Both India and the Philippines are members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which seeks to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on single-regional hubs. As global trade flows become increasingly fragmented due to tariff disputes and geopolitical uncertainty, direct aviation links create flexibility for exporters in both countries.
With recent developments in the trade war, industry research centers have identified that direct connectivity between Delhi and Manila reduces exposure to congestion and tariff volatility at intermediate hubs. For sectors such as pharmaceuticals and perishables, predictability is as important as cost, and this service addresses both dimensions.
Operational facts
Air India will deploy Airbus A321LR aircraft on the Delhi-Manila route. With a three-class cabin configuration, the aircraft is designed primarily for passenger service. However, it offers between 12 and 15 tons of loading capacity per flight, which can be of strategic importance for shipments of pharmaceuticals, express parcels and perishable items.
Although the service does not replicate the size of a dedicated freighter, the consistency of the belly area may be valuable in markets underserved by full freight operators. If demand increases, industry analysts point out that Air
India could consider deploying wide-body aircraft, offering expanded cargo transportation services, or collaborating with Philippine airlines to create joint or joint cargo solutions.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila presents both opportunities and limitations. As the Philippines’ main gateway, it already faces congestion pressures, but it also serves as a crucial redistribution center to the country’s more than 7,600 islands. Efficient international connectivity to Manila could support last-mile distribution across the archipelago, giving Indian exporters faster access to retail and healthcare markets.
