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Air Changan will launch charter flights between Yichang, China and Manila this month, opening a new nonstop connection between the two cities and expanding Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s links to the Chinese market
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The Chinese carrier plans to operate nine roundtrip flights from September 15 to October 22, 2026, using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with189 seats
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It will be the first nonstop service between the two cities
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The initial charter flights can also help test demand for the route and establish the market for possible additional services in the future, NAIA operator New NAIA Corp. said
Air Changan will launch charter flights between Yichang, China and Manila this month, opening a new nonstop connection between the two cities and expanding Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA) links to the Chinese market.
The Chinese carrier plans to operate nine roundtrip flights from September 15 to October 22, 2026, using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with189 seats.
Yichang currently has no nonstop service to Manila, making the Air Changan flights a new direct connection for travelers between central China and the Philippines.
New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private operator of NAIA, welcomed the new service saying direct connections to previously unserved destinations are important to expanding NAIA’s international network and creating more opportunities for tourism and travel.
“New connections like Yichang-Manila give travelers more direct access to the Philippines and make it easier for new visitor markets to reach the country,” NNIC said in a statement.
“We welcome Air Changan to NAIA and hope this initial service can help build demand for more flights and stronger connectivity between our two countries,” it added.
Yichang is a major city in China’s Hubei province and is closely associated with the Three Gorges and Yangtze River tourism areas.
For Philippine travelers, the service also provides direct access to a destination that would otherwise generally require a connecting flight, broadening the range of cities accessible from Manila.
The initial charter flights can also help test demand for the route and establish the market for possible additional services in the future.
For NAIA, the new connection adds another international city pair as NNIC works with airlines and aviation authorities to expand the airport’s network while improving its ability to accommodate additional flights and passenger traffic.
READ: NNIC remits P78B to gov’t, spends P6.8B for NAIA upgrades in 2 years
Since taking over NAIA in September 2024, NNIC said it has been rehabilitating terminal and airside facilities, replacing aging equipment and introducing operational improvements aimed at increasing the airport’s capacity and efficiency.
NNIC said attracting new airlines and routes, particularly connections to cities not currently served from Manila, is part of strengthening NAIA’s role as the country’s main international gateway and supporting the growth of Philippine tourism, trade and business travel.
