The Philippines and Iceland have agreed on a new framework that could allow airlines to operate daily passenger services between the two countries.
Officials concluded the negotiations in Reykjavik on 19 August 2026. They initialled an Air Services Agreement and signed a memorandum covering the agreed traffic arrangements.
Under the framework, designated airlines from each country may operate up to seven passenger flights per week. The agreement also covers cargo services and allows both direct and connecting operations.
However, neither country has announced a direct route, an airline operator or a launch date. Airlines must first decide whether a service would be commercially viable.
The agreement could therefore create new travel options rather than immediately introduce daily flights. If airlines launch new services, passengers could benefit from fewer connections and shorter journeys.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Edgar Badajos and Icelandic chief negotiator Sigríður Eysteinsdóttir represented the two sides in finalising the agreement.
Philippine Ambassador Enrico Fos said improved connections could particularly benefit Filipinos living and working in Iceland. More than 3,000 Filipinos currently live in the Nordic country, according to the Philippine Embassy in Oslo.
Fos said shorter routes could make journeys home easier for Iceland-based Filipinos. He also highlighted the potential benefits for seafarers and other workers travelling to their workplaces.
Philippine Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the framework could support tourism, trade, investment, education and cultural exchange.
Meanwhile, Eysteinsdóttir welcomed the outcome of the negotiations. She said the talks helped both sides understand their priorities and reach a common position.
The countries signed a memorandum on bilateral consultations in 2024. The latest agreement adds civil aviation to the growing cooperation between Iceland and the Philippines.
