EVA Air is planning to launch non-stop flights between Taipei and Delhi by early December 2026, as the Taiwanese carrier seeks to strengthen connectivity between South Asia and North America.
EVA Air President Sun Chia-ming said the airline has already submitted an application to operate the new route and expects to commence services by early December.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., following the launch of EVA Air’s new direct flights to the U.S. capital, Sun said Delhi’s strategic location would enable the airline to tap into growing transit demand between India and North America. The carrier also plans to target Indian technology professionals, particularly software engineers working in Silicon Valley.
Sun noted that EVA Air’s early morning departures from Taipei to major North American gateways, including Los Angeles and Seattle, would provide convenient onward connections for passengers travelling from Delhi.
The airline believes the new Delhi service will strengthen its competitiveness against regional carriers such as Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines in the North America-South Asia transit market.
Since launching direct flights to Los Angeles in 1992, EVA Air has steadily expanded its North American network. The airline currently serves 10 destinations across North America—Houston, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto and Washington, D.C.—operating 98 weekly round-trip flights, more than the combined North American services of fellow Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and Starlux Airlines.
According to Sun, North America contributes approximately 40 per cent of EVA Air’s passenger revenue, while nearly 70 per cent of its cargo revenue is generated from the region.
He added that Taiwan’s relatively small domestic market makes international transit traffic an important driver of future growth for Taiwanese airlines.
Data from Taoyuan International Airport Corporation shows that Taiwan handled 6.69 million transit passengers in 2025, up from 5.32 million in 2019. During the first five months of 2026, transit passenger numbers reached 3.29 million, a 51 per cent increase over the same period in 2019, accounting for 15.2 per cent of all passengers passing through the airport.
Sun also highlighted strong growth in the airline’s cargo business, driven by rising demand for artificial intelligence-related products. AI-related shipments currently contribute 40–50 per cent of EVA Air’s cargo revenue.
To support future cargo demand, the airline plans to expand its dedicated freighter fleet from the current nine aircraft to 12 by 2028, further increasing cargo capacity.
