Philippine Airlines seeks approval for first Manila-Chicago direct route

Philippine Airlines has filed an application with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) seeking approval to launch nonstop flights between Manila and Chicago. The proposed route would establish the first direct air link between the Philippines and the American Midwest

The proposed route connecting Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) would span 8,121 miles, making it among the world’s longest commercial flights. 

According to online media travel site One Mile at a Time, Philippine Airlines is requesting expedited approval to begin service during the summer 2026 International Air Transport Association (IATA) traffic season.

Market demand and connectivity gap

The Manila-Chicago route would address significant passenger demand currently served only through connecting flights. DOT data shows approximately 118,200 passengers traveled between Chicago and the Philippines in the 12 months ending June 2025, all requiring connections through intermediate cities.

The most popular connection points for Chicago-Philippines travel include Taipei, Seoul, and Hong Kong, creating lengthy journey times for passengers. The proposed nonstop service would eliminate these connections and provide direct access to the Midwest market.

“The service will open an entirely new gateway for scheduled US-Philippine services and will offer passengers traveling from the Philippines to Chicago and the Midwest an important new service option,” Philippine Airlines stated in its application.

Route authorization and network expansion

The proposed flights operate under the existing US-Philippines Air Service Agreement, which permits Philippine carriers to serve Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Guam, Saipan, and four additional US destinations selected by the Philippine government. Chicago would represent one of those additional designated points.

If approved, Chicago would become Philippine Airlines’ sixth US destination and seventh in North America. The carrier currently operates 44 weekly roundtrip flights between Manila and North American cities, serving Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York JFK, Honolulu, Vancouver, and Toronto.

According to OAG Schedules Analyzer data, Philippine Airlines provides approximately 31,640 two-way weekly nonstop seats in the North America-Philippines market, accounting for roughly 68.5% of total capacity. The broader US-Philippines market includes service from United Airlines, which operates 14 weekly San Francisco-Manila flights and daily Cebu-Los Angeles service via Tokyo Narita, plus Air Canada’s four-times-weekly Toronto-Manila route.

Aircraft deployment and operational considerations

The 8,121-mile route would rank as Philippine Airlines’ third-longest service and would likely require the carrier’s new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The airline took delivery of Southeast Asia’s first A350-1000 in December 2025 and has eight additional aircraft on order, with five scheduled for delivery in 2026.

The A350-1000’s advertised range of approximately 9,000 nautical miles would comfortably handle the Manila-Chicago sector. Philippine Airlines has identified North America as a target market for the new aircraft type as part of its long-haul network expansion.

Filipino-American demographic

The route targets a substantial Filipino-American population across the United States. According to Pew Research Center data, approximately 4.6 to 4.7 million people of Filipino descent live in the United States as of recent estimates, representing the third-largest Asian American group. This population includes both immigrants and US-born individuals with Filipino ancestry.

While California maintains the highest concentration of Filipino Americans, significant populations exist throughout the Midwest and other regions that would be served more directly through Chicago connections rather than West Coast gateways.

Pricing and market positioning

Philippine Airlines has begun advertising Manila-Chicago fares starting at $792, indicating competitive positioning against current connecting options. The pricing suggests the carrier aims to capture both visiting friends and relatives traffic and leisure travelers seeking direct access between the Philippines and the American Midwest.

Regulatory approval is generally considered procedural under the current bilateral aviation framework between the United States and Philippines. If approved, the service would mark a significant expansion of direct connectivity between the two countries and could influence travel patterns for the substantial Filipino-American community.

The summer 2026 launch timeline would position Philippine Airlines to capture peak travel demand between the Philippines and the United States during the Northern Hemisphere summer vacation period.

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