Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) Taiwan-based airline EVA Air on Monday announced it will launch direct flights to Washington, D.C. in July 2026, addressing the relative lack of flights to the southeastern region of North America.
The route will be the first direct Washington service operated by a Taiwanese passenger carrier.
Speaking at a press event, EVA Air President Sun Chia-ming (孫嘉明) said the airline plans to operate four weekly round-trip flights between Taoyuan and Washington, bringing its North American network to 10 destinations with a total of 98 flights per week.
The airline reported consolidated revenue of NT$220.33 billion (US$6.96 billion) in 2025, down 0.31 percent from 2024 but still the second-highest annual total on record.
Looking to 2026, Sun said that so far the first quarter of the year has seen growth in passenger traffic compared to last year, and the general market is expected to grow throughout the year.
Freight shipments also show an upward trend due to the continued boom in artificial intelligence demand, he said.
On fleet size, Sun said the airline will maintain a fleet of 80 passenger aircraft and nine cargo planes, as two new Boeing 787-9 jets are introduced to replace one Boeing 777 and one Airbus A330.
Sun said the company will strive to surpass the record revenue level of 2024, adding that Taoyuan International Airport has the potential to become a hub for transfer flights in the Asian-Pacific region.
