EVA Air has just revealed plans to launch flights to its newest destination in North America as of the middle of 2026, and it’ll be among the carrier’s longest routes to date…
So, what’s EVA Air’s motive for flying to Washington Dulles? According to an EVA Air executive:
- Washington has a lot of business demand in political, military, financial, and technological sectors, which should help with filling the flight
- Transit passengers from other destinations in Asia and beyond account for around 60% of EVA Air’s passengers on North America flights, and the Washington Dulles flight is expected to have a similar passenger mix
- Washington Dulles is a United Airlines hub, and both airlines are in Star Alliance, enabling connectivity within the United States and beyond
- There are currently 320,000 Asian residents in the Washington DC area, of which 14,000 are Taiwanese (14,000 isn’t exactly a high number for launching a long haul route, but…)
I think another thing to keep in mind is that Taiwanese aviation is incredibly competitive, because in addition to EVA Air, you have China Airlines and Starlux Airlines. So there’s a competitive desire to launch routes before other Taiwanese airlines, and I imagine that’s also at play here. EVA Air is best positioned for Washington flights, given its Star Alliance membership.
What do you make of EVA Air launching Washington Dulles flights?