THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Indian low-cost airline IndiGo, that country’s top carrier by passenger totals, has applied with regulators to undertake direct flights to Manila from Mumbai and Delhi.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DTI said IndiGo parent InterGlobe Enterprises has filed its application to offer the routes with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
The DTI said it will assist InterGlobe in its application, particularly in terms of regulatory assessments, slot allocation, inter-agency coordination, and investment facilitation.
“The DTI stands fully committed to facilitating their commercial requirements, coordinating with relevant regulatory bodies, and fostering strategic partnerships with local carriers to ensure a seamless launch,” Trade Secretary Maria Cristina A. Roque was quoted as saying.
The DTI also offered to facilitate possible General Sales Agency (GSA) and codeshare deals between InterGlobe and Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
Additional flights between the Philippines and India are expected to help boost trade, investment and tourism, the DTI said.
“The routes would link the Philippines directly into IndiGo’s domestic Indian network and its Middle East routes, positioning Philippine hubs as onward-connection points for Indian outbound trade, business, and cargo traffic,” it noted.
The discussions took place during Ms. Roque’s meeting with InterGlobe executives in New Delhi on Sept. 12.
Alongside aviation, both parties also talked over possible opportunities in enterprise technology and artificial intelligence (AI) via InterGlobe’s AI operating unit AIONOS; as well as business-to-business express logistics in the country’s economic zones via the company’s subsidiaries MOVIN Logistics and UPS.
The DTI also explored potential partnerships in pilot training under InterGlobe’s CAE joint venture, and opportunities for hospitality asset with local conglomerates, it said.
Separately, the DTI said it secured about $66.78 million (around P4 billion) in potential new investments and expansions from Indian technology and manufacturing firms, namely Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., HCLTech, VVDN Technologies Private Ltd., and Hinduja Group. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
