[Finance] EVA Air Aims to Launch Delhi Route by Year-End, Optimistic About Taiwan Becoming an Asian Transit Hub
bella@@ 央廣 新聞11h ago
Domestic airlines are actively expanding their North American networks, competing for the transit market connecting to Asia.
EVA Air has already pioneered 10 direct flight destinations in North America. President Sun Jia-ming stated that in addition to evaluating new routes to Boston, they are striving to launch direct flights to Delhi, India by the end of the year, connecting passengers from North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, and are optimistic about Taiwan becoming an Asian transit hub.
Since launching its Los Angeles route in 1992, EVA Air has successively opened multiple flight routes, deeply cultivating the North American market for over 30 years. It currently operates 10 direct flight destinations in North America with 98 weekly flights, surpassing the combined total of China Airlines and Starlux Airlines, solidifying its position as the leader in national airlines' North American networks.
"EVA Air has always been in a leading position in expanding its North American network," said EVA Air President Sun Jia-ming. He pointed out that North America accounts for about 40% of passenger revenue and 70% of cargo revenue. Approximately 30% of all passengers are transit passengers, and this figure is as high as 50-60% on North American routes. Because EVA Air has advantages in flight timings and comprehensive network connections, it allows passengers to complete transfers in an average of 2 to 3 hours, forming a competitive advantage like a "moat."
Sun Jia-ming stated that Taiwan has a population of less than 23 million. Routes to Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia are gradually maturing. For airlines to continue growing, developing the transit market is a necessary path.
According to statistics from Taoyuan Airport Corporation, transit passengers in 2019 were 5.32 million, accounting for 10.7% of the total passengers. By 2025, this number had increased to 6.69 million. In the first five months of 2026, transit passengers reached 3.29 million, a 51% increase compared to the same period in 2019, accounting for 15.2% of the total passengers. The volume and proportion of transit passengers have been steadily increasing in recent years.
Among these, North American and Southeast Asian routes are the largest transit markets. In the first five months of this year, they combined for 2.52 million passengers, accounting for about 77% of all transit passengers. The United States ranked first with 1.08 million passengers, followed by the Philippines and Vietnam, indicating that Taipei is gradually becoming an important transit node for travel between North America and Asia.
Optimistic about the continued growth in transit demand, Sun Jia-ming said that in addition to continuously evaluating routes to Spain and Boston, USA, EVA Air has applied for the Delhi, India route and is actively completing the relevant procedures, hoping to launch flights by early December.
He pointed out that Delhi has a strategic location connecting the North American and South Asian markets. It also targets many Indian software engineers working in the Silicon Valley tech industry. EVA Air has better flight timings, and with early morning flights on West Coast routes like Los Angeles and Seattle, it can provide smoother transfer arrangements, potentially competing with airlines like Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
Sun Jia-ming also anticipates that with the completion of Taoyuan's Terminal 3 by the end of next year, the introduction of facial recognition and expedited business customs clearance will shorten transfer times, enhance passenger experience, and further strengthen Taoyuan Airport's competitiveness as an Asian transit center.
China Airlines and Starlux Airlines have also accelerated their expansion into the US market in recent years. China Airlines currently has 7 direct flight destinations in North America, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Phoenix, with about 40 weekly flights. Through partnerships with Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and the SkyTeam alliance, it connects to over a hundred inland cities in the United States. Starlux Airlines has established routes to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix, and Ontario, operating 29 weekly flights.
Su Wei-jen, Vice President of EVA Air's Americas Region, admitted that demand in the North American market was strong in the first half of the year, with both prices and volume remaining good. However, due to rising travel and homecoming costs caused by oil prices, booking speeds in July and August have slowed slightly, and some carriers have already offered promotional fares.
Sun Jia-ming also acknowledged that with increased capacity, there is indeed pressure on prices, and competition on the West Coast is more intense. However, EVA Air is prepared to face challenges, possessing advantages such as a sound network, significant timing benefits, and stable passenger sources, which have had little actual impact.
American airlines have also been actively targeting the Asian market in the past two years, with airlines like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines offering direct flights to Seattle and San Francisco. Su Wei-jen analyzed that post-pandemic, Asian airfares are still about 30% higher than pre-pandemic levels, and the recovery of US-China route capacity is less than 30% of pre-pandemic levels, leading many airlines to remain optimistic about the development of the Asian market. However, the passenger base for American airlines primarily consists of consolidating passengers from all over the US to domestic hubs and then transferring them to Taipei. National airlines, on the other hand, excel with their dense Asian networks. The passenger structures are different, and both sides have their own advantages. (Editor: Liu Xiang-hua)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=217307
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