PHL-Iceland flights may operate soon

The governments of the Philippines and Iceland recently signed its first air service agreement (ASA), opening direct and connecting flights, up to seven weekly flights, between the capitals of the two countries.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed the ASA with Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez saying the ASA opens the opportunity for the two countries to explore direct and connecting flights.

The ASA allows the Philippines and Iceland to operate daily flights for passenger and cargo, based on commercial demand and viability.

Lopez added the ASA can be further expanded with projected build up in trade and tourism between the Philippines and Iceland.

As of 2021, only 2,241 Filipinos live in Iceland, based on data from Statistics Iceland. Still, Filipinos make up the largest Asian community in the country with only a little over 402,000 residents.

Without a direct flight, a Filipino headed to Iceland will take roughly 30 hours of travel through layover connections. There are several Asian hubs that connect to Iceland, including China, the Middle East and Turkey.

DOTr has been pushing for the expansion of air connections of the Philippines by engaging in air talks with its foreign counterparts.