Taiwan eyes transit gains from airline expansion

台灣著眼於民航業之擴張帶來的轉機收益

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New routes to Washington, DC, and Prague are giving Taiwan’s airlines and travel agencies more room to court transfer passengers, long-haul tourists, and business travelers.

Taiwan’s international and cross-strait passenger volume is forecasted to hit 62 million this year on the back of new aircraft entering service, a bump in transfer demand between North America and Southeast Asia, and foreign airlines adding capacity, per CNA.

EVA Air is set to begin flights to Washington in June, while Starlux Airlines plans to launch service to Prague in August. The new routes add to Taiwan’s push to make Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport an increasingly key global hub.

The airport currently draws far fewer transfer passengers than major regional hubs such as Hong Kong, Incheon, and Singapore Changi. One aviation academic cited in the report said transfer passengers account for about 15% of Taoyuan Airport traffic, leaving room for growth if airlines continue adding destinations.

Taoyuan Airport’s expansion is central to that goal. The north concourse of Terminal 3 opened in late 2025, while future Terminal 3 and third runway work is expected to raise capacity by more than 50% and relieve pressure on existing facilities, according to CNA.

Airline executives cited Taiwan’s location as a selling point. Flights from Taiwan to North America take about 11 to 16 hours with roughly four-hour connection times to most major Southeast Asian cities, making Taipei a practical stop between the two regions.

Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is also helping sustain demand. Business travel between Taiwan, the US, and Southeast Asia remains tied to supply chain activity, while European routes could help bring passengers through Taiwan on the way to South Korea or Japan, per CNA.

Travel agencies said the new routes could also change tour planning. Washington can be paired with New York or Toronto to create more varied US East Coast itineraries, while Prague is expected to appeal to upmarket travelers.

Tourism officials said more than 94% of visitors enter Taiwan by air, per the report. The government plans to offer half-day incentives for transit passengers, hoping short stopovers can bring travelers into Taiwan and create more business near the airport and along nearby travel routes.