Taiwan adds Washington and Prague routes

Taiwan’s airlines are doing something pretty straightforward but strategically important — they’re filling in holes on the map. EVA Air is launching nonstop service from Taipei’s Taoyuan airport to Washington, D.C., and Starlux is opening a direct Taipei–Prague route. That gives Taiwan one new link into the political center of the US and another into Central Europe, which matters if Taoyuan wants to act less like an endpoint and more like a hub. (taiwannews.com.tw) ### Which airlines are adding what? EVA Air is the carrier behind the Washington route, while Starlux is launching the Prague service. These are separate moves, but they point in the same direction — more nonstop long-haul flying from Taoyuan to places that were either underserved or required awkward connections. EVA framed Washington as a route for both business and political travel, while Starlux pitched Prague as its first European destination and a useful gateway deeper into the continent. (taiwannews.com.tw) ### When do the flights start? The Prague route starts first. Starlux said it will begin flying Taipei–Prague on August 1, 2026, with three flights a week, then increase to four weekly flights in October. EVA’s Washington service begins on October 3, 2026. Those dates matter because they show this is not a vague expansion plan — seats are being put into the market on a near-term schedule. (taiwannews.com.tw)ity in Europe, but that’s kind of the point. Starlux’s bet is that a Central European destination can work as both a tourism draw and a connector. The airline’s CEO, Glenn Chai, described Prague as centrally located, and the route was presented as a way to feed passengers onward through Asia as well — including connections from Taoyuan to places like Tokyo, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. Basic(taiwannews.com.tw)taiwannews.com.tw) ### Why Washington? Washington gives EVA something different from its usual North America logic. This is not just another West Coast or trans-Pacific leisure route. It is a nonstop to the US capital, which the airline tied to politics, business, and higher-value travel demand. EVA also said the addition lifts its North America schedule to 98 flights per week, which it described as the highest frequency among Taiwanese airlines. That’s a scale signal as much as a route launch. (taiwannews.com.tw) ### Why does Taoyuan care so much? Because hub airports live or die on connections. A nonstop flight is useful for local passengers, but the bigger prize is transfer traffic — people who are not ending their trip in Taiwan at all. Both route announcements leaned on that logic. EVA talked about feeding travelers onward into Asia from Taoyuan, and Starlux made a similar case from the Europe side. Taiwan is trying to turn geography i(taiwannews.com.tw)p itineraries efficient. (taiwannews.com.tw) ### Is this also about tourism? Partly, yes — but the cleaner read is aviation strategy first, tourism second. Taipei 101 is still promoting its 101st-floor observatory space, and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is cycling through new exhibitions and events, so the city has fresh tourism inventory to market. But those attractions are supporting actors here. The real story is air access — once nonstop routes exist, tourism boards have something concrete to sell. (taipei-101.com.tw) ### What’s the bottom line? Taiwan is not just adding flights. It is adding position. Washington gives EVA a prestige-heavy US endpoint, and Prague gives Starlux a first foothold in Europe. Put together, they make Taoyuan more credible as a place where long-haul passengers can connect instead of just arrive. (taiwannews.com.tw)