Direct Davao-Manado Flights Revival Gains Momentum to Boost Regional Ties
Plans to revive direct flights between Davao City and Manado are gaining significant ground as officials intensify efforts to strengthen trade, tourism, and people-to-people connections between Mindanao and eastern Indonesia. This update was shared during the Wednesdays Media Forum at Habi at Kape in Abreeza Corporate Center in Davao City on April 15, 2026.
Renewed Push Following Business Mission
The renewed push comes after a recent business mission to Manado from April 6 to 10, 2026, led by officials from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of Tourism (DOT), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). These officials met with Indonesian counterparts to rebuild support for restoring long-suspended air and sea links. MinDA Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro emphasized that the goal is not merely to reopen the route but to ensure its sustainability through steady passenger and cargo demand.
Direct flights between Davao and Manado have been operational since the 1990s, previously served by airlines such as Garuda Indonesia. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the route recorded strong performance, achieving around 70 percent passenger load. Operations halted due to the pandemic, not because of low demand. "This route was actually doing well," Montenegro noted, highlighting its role beyond tourism in connecting both regions for trade, education, and health services.
Historical and Economic Significance
When the route was active, it facilitated regular travel for students, workers, and patients between North Sulawesi and Davao. Many Indonesian students pursued studies and internships in Davao City, including at Ateneo de Davao University, while professionals from Manado completed graduate studies there. Davao also became a medical destination for Indonesian patients seeking more affordable care, with some hospitals linked to facilities in Jakarta.
Officials now face the challenge of ensuring sufficient passengers and cargo to keep the route viable upon reopening. To address this, both Philippine and Indonesian sides are conducting separate studies on market demand and route development. Indonesian carrier TransNusa is among those assessing the potential service.
Supporting Infrastructure and Tourism Opportunities
Alongside efforts to restore air links, officials are advancing the Three Provinces Gateway Corridor, which groups Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Davao Occidental into one development strategy. This plan aims to address past issues of uneven demand by linking agriculture, fisheries, and tourism across the three provinces to create a more stable economic base.
Tourism officials believe the revived Davao-Manado connection could open new travel opportunities, especially for education, medical, and dive tourism. Tanya Rabat-Tan stated that discussions with tour operators in Manado focus on creating joint travel packages between Mindanao and North Sulawesi. One proposal is a dive circuit linking Davao with Bunaken National Park, a well-known marine destination. She added that Manado could serve as a transit point for international tourists, particularly from Japan and South Korea, allowing visits to both destinations in one trip.
Incentives and Timeline for Reopening
The initiative is supported by incentives under the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga), including reduced airport and port fees and travel tax exemptions for travelers within the subregion. Montenegro indicated that the timeline for reopening the route depends on ongoing study results, but officials are hopeful progress can be made within the year.
The Davao-Manado link has long been viewed as a key bridge for regional cooperation, though past attempts struggled due to inconsistent demand. This time, officials emphasize focusing not only on reopening the route but also on building the economic activity needed to sustain it. If successful, the plan could strengthen Mindanao’s position as a gateway to eastern Indonesia and open new opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment in the years ahead.
