Jetstar Airways Launches Direct Flights Between Perth and Manila
The new route strengthens air connections and promotes tourism and business between Australia and the Philippines.
Travel between the Philippines and Australia just improved with the introduction of Jetstar Airways’ direct flights from Perth to Manila, beginning on December 5, 2025, from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
In a press release dated December 1, Secretary of Tourism Christina Frasco stated that this new service significantly enhances air connectivity, fostering tourism, business, and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
She emphasized: “This flight represents more than just travel; it symbolizes our commitment to offering opportunities for tourism and business, making it easier for travelers to fly to Manila and further connect the Philippines to the world.”
As of November 30, 15 new international direct routes have commenced operations in the country.
A thrice-weekly service
Jetstar’s inaugural flight carried 169 passengers and completed a journey lasting six hours and 35 minutes.
The airline will operate this route three times a week: every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, using a 232-seat aircraft.
Flight JQ80 departs Manila at 5:35 AM and arrives in Perth at 1 PM, while flight JQ81 leaves Perth at 9:10 PM and reaches Manila at 4:15 AM.
Additionally, a new seasonal route connecting Brisbane to Cebu was launched on December 3 and will operate three times weekly until May 16, 2026.
More options for a key market
These new routes offer more choices for Australian travelers aiming to visit major Filipino destinations like Cebu, Palawan, and Boracay.
Australia remains the Philippines’ fifth-largest source of inbound tourism. By the end of March, approximately 271,207 Australian travelers had arrived by air, comprising about five percent of total international arrivals.
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) also notes that 53 percent of Australian visitors return to the Philippines to revisit top attractions and experience Filipino hospitality.
Frasco remarked that direct flights are instrumental in supporting the DOT’s strategy to enhance international air access under the National Tourism Development Plan.
