MORE THAN MATESHIP: CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF TIES BETWEEN SYDNEY AND MANILA
Media Release and publicity
Sydney, 13 October 2025
-Sixty years ago, a Philippine Airlines DC-8 named Mabuhay touched down in Sydney with 86 passengers on board. It was the first direct flight between Sydney and Manila – and the beginning of a story that’s carried millions of Australians and Filipinos across the skies ever since.
From just two flights a week in 1965, the route has grown into a vital daily connection served by multiple airlines, linking two dynamic cities and two close friends in the Asia-Pacific.
Today, the Sydney–Manila connection is about more than air travel – it’s a living bridge for families, business, culture, and community, while showcasing the Heart of the Filipino.
To mark the milestone, Philippine Airlines has launched a week long anniversary sale (13–19 October 2025), giving Australians the chance to create their own Mabuhay Moment with return fares from Sydney to Manila from just $929 for travel after 1 February 2026.
Philippine Airlines President Richard Nuttall said the anniversary was a proud moment for the flag carrier – one that speaks to the enduring connection between the Philippines and Australia: “Philippine Airlines is proud to have flown generations of Australians and Filipinos across the skies between Sydney and Manila. Since our inaugural service in 1965, we have carried millions of passengers, shared countless ‘Mabuhay Moments,’ and helped connect businesses, families, and travellers alike. As we look to the next 60 years, PAL remains committed to delivering world-class service and care that comes from the heart.”
Australia and the Philippines are two neighbours that share far more than most Australians realise. While millions have flown the route, the Philippines remains one of the region’s most vibrant destinations – a country of over 7,000 islands where world-class beaches meet booming innovation, and where friendship, family and hospitality are a way of life.
Did You Know? Fascinating Facts From 60 Years of Friendship
Visitor flows: almost 300,000 Australians visited the Philippines in 2024, making Australia the thirteenth largest inbound market.
Community ties: More than 91,000 people in Greater Sydney were born in the Philippines, and over 106,00 NSW residents were born in the Philippines ancestry – making it the state’s largest migrant community.
Distance: At 6,243 km, the Sydney–Manila flight is longer than the entire east–west span of Australia (approximately 4,000).
Population contrasts: Metro Manila’s ~15 million people is almost three times Greater Sydney’s 5.4 million. The Philippines overall has approximately 118 million people, in a land area smaller than NSW.
Culture: The Philippines’ national dish, adobo, rivals the Aussie meat pie as a national icon. Both countries love their beer – San Miguel Pale Pilsen in Manila, Tooheys in Sydney or Corona Nationally.
Language: The Philippines has over 170 languages spoken with English and Filipino (standardised version of Tagalog) as the co-official languages. Australia’s national language is English, but over 300 languages are spoken in the country including Tagalog.
Sport: Basketball is king in the Philippines – with a court in every barangay – while Sydney loves its NRL and AFL.
Education: The Philippines is consistently in Australia’s top 5 source countries for international students, with ~35,000 enrolments in 2024.
Nursing: The Philippines is the largest source of internationally qualified nurses in Australia – many working in NSW hospitals.
Trade: Two-way trade reached A$10.2 billion in 2023, with 250+ Australian companies operating in the Philippines.
Remittances: Filipino-Australians in Sydney send hundreds of millions of dollars home each year, funding education, housing, and small businesses.
Religion: Christianity is the most common religion among the two countries with 91.5% practicing in the Philippines and 43.9% in Australia.
National anthems: The Philippine National Anthem is called ‘Lupang Hinirang’ which means ‘Chosen Land’, while Australia’s unofficial anthem is – arguably – Great Southern Land.
Floral emblem: Australia’s national flower is the wattle, the Filipino equivalent is the sampaguita or the Arabian jasmin.
National colours: Australia’s national colours are gold and green, while blue, yellow and red are those of the Philippines.
What’s in a name: The capital of the Philippines is Manila; not to be confused with Manilla, a small town in Northern NSW with a population of just 2,386.
To mark 60 years of connection, Philippine Airlines is inviting Australians to rediscover the nation’s heart, heritage and hidden treasures.
- Destinations of the Philippines; Bohol, Boracay, Busuanga, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag, Manila, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Siquijor
About Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the Philippines’ flag carrier and only full-service network airline, as well as the first commercial airline in Asia. PAL’s fleet of Boeing, Airbus, and De Havilland aircraft operate scheduled nonstop flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao to 31 destinations in the Philippines and 38 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East. Known for its hallmark heartwarming and gracious Filipino service, PAL also supports the global economy through air cargo and charter services, while serving the travel needs of overseas Filipinos as well as businesspeople, tourists and families from all over the world.
