Philippines opens limited route tapping Mongolian market

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December 29, 2025 | 8:30am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is opening a new tourism front in Central and North Asia with the arrival of its first charter flight from Mongolia.

A special charter flight operated by Hunnu Air touched down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 7:20 a.m. on December 26, carrying 126 passengers, most of them Mongolian nationals.

Arriving passengers received beaded necklaces as a welcome at the airport.

Hunnu Air marked the milestone in a social media post. “Hunnu Air company made its first flight this year to UB–Manila on December 25, 2025,” the airline said in a post, as translated in English.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the charter flight aligns with the administration's push to diversify visitor markets beyond the traditional sources. It is also a push for air connectivity as a key driver of tourism growth.

 Mongolia is currently classified as a niche source market and is handled by the department’s China Office. As of December 26, it ranked 56th in inbound tourist arrivals to the Philippines.

"With no direct commercial flight route between the two countries, Mongolian travelers transit through third countries, often requiring additional visas, to reach the Philippines," the DOT said.

The charter flights are part of a series scheduled between December 25, 2025, and January 10, 2026, with four planned rotations, adding an estimated 616 new seats for Mongolian tourists.

The timing of the flight was also deemed strategic by the DOT, as it coincides with Mongolia’s peak winter travel season when outbound travelers actively seek warmer destinations for longer stays.