A transformative shift in regional connectivity is underway as the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) intensify efforts to revive the direct air route between Davao City and Manado, North Sulawesi.
The restoration of this flight is expected to reduce the current arduous 19-hour multi-modal journey to a seamless flight of just over an hour.
Under the framework of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), government leaders are adopting a new, deliberate “demand-first” approach to ensure the route’s long-term commercial viability.
“We need to be able to reestablish direct connectivity between Davao and Manado, but we must first create the demand—both for tourism and business—so airlines can decide to serve the route again,” said Romeo Montenegro, Deputy Executive Director of MinDA.
“Connectivity can only be sustained if we build strong demand through tourism flows, trade exchanges, and investment partnerships.”
Previous attempts to maintain this route faced challenges including low passenger volume and underdeveloped trade linkages, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current strategy differs from past efforts by building tourism circuits and Local Government Unit (LGU) partnerships before the full restoration of services, rather than expecting airlines to sustain the route independently.
During a recent outbound mission, key officials met with TransNusa, an Indonesian carrier that expressed renewed private sector interest in the corridor.
DOT Region XI Director Tanya Rabat-Tan emphasized that route development is a primary regional priority. “We are working closely with the Civil Aviation Board and the Air Service Development Committee,” Tan stated. “There are significant opportunities in education, medical and wellness tourism, dive tourism, and adventure activities that we are actively exploring with our Indonesian counterparts.”
The mission also introduced the Davao Triangle Gateway Corridor, involving Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental. This initiative positions Eastern Mindanao as a unified economic gateway, integrating agriculture and trade flows to provide the consistent cargo and passenger volume necessary for sustainable aviation.
The revival of the Davao-Manado link aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to position Mindanao as a strategic gateway to ASEAN markets. By strengthening air links with Indonesia, the administration aims to boost trade and investment, making Mindanao a more competitive and integrated economic hub.
As these government agencies continue to foster bilateral engagements, the anticipated Davao-Manado direct link stands to unlock unprecedented economic opportunities and deepen regional integration between the Philippines and Indonesia.
