EVA Air is Launching Nonstop Flights from Washington, D.C. to Taipei

Taiwanese carrier EVA Air will launch nonstop service between the Washington D.C. area and Taipei later this year, following years of anticipation.

The new flights will operate four times per week between Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), marking the first time an airline will seamlessly connect the two capitals, according to EVA Air. The new flights will kick off in July on board a Boeing 787-9 aircraft with 278 seats, including 26 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 224 economy seats.

The route solidifies Taipei’s “appeal as a world-class tourism destination,” Andrew Su, the executive vice president for EVA Air America, told Travel + Leisure in a statement. He anticipated customers will include both business and leisure travelers.

Taipei has been a trending destination in recent years, with Expedia searches skyrocketing more than 2,700 percent in 2023 as Asia travel started up following the pandemic, according to the Taipei Times. The island has also long been known for its food scene, ranging from lively street markets to Michelin eats, as well as its landmarks, from the high-tech skyscraper Taipei 101 to the historic Di Hua Street. This year, Taipei was selected as one of T+L’s 50 best places to travel in 2026.

EVA Air has quietly been known for being an industry changemaker, most notably having introduced the concept of premium economy in 1992, according to a news release at the time. Now it continues that trend with its fourth-generation product of the mid-tier class, which features what it calls an industry-leading 42-inch seat pitch, making comfort a priority on the long-haul flight. And in business class, passengers can sample bites from beloved soup dumpling institution Din Tai Fung.

Last year, the airline also earned Skytrax’s prestigious 5-Star certification for the 10th consecutive year, along with the No. 1 spot for the world’s cleanest airline and the award for the best economy class catering. Just last week, EVA Air came in as the eighth safest airline in the world, according to AirlineRatings.com.

The D.C.-area airport, located in northern Virginia’s Fairfax County, will be the eighth U.S. destination for the Star Alliance partner. Beyond IAD, EVA Air operates daily flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), plus multiple flights per day from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Daily nonstop service is also offered to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), with a total of 98 weekly flights across the continent. 

The new route marks a major commitment to service the American market, which is growing more competitive. Fellow Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines started trans-Pacific flights in 2023, and while the carrier currently just serves Western hubs, there have been rumblings of its first East Coast routes coming soon.