Flying to Europe and America: Taiwan Seizes Transit Tourism Opportunities
Taiwan's aviation industry is expanding its European and American route networks, aiming to develop Taoyuan International Airport into a transit hub for the Asia-Pacific region. This is expected to boost transit and tourism, revitalizing the entire tourism industry.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 10:26
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TAIPEI, May 3 (CNA) – Taiwan's civil aviation industry is expanding its European and American route networks. Taoyuan Airport, with its geographical advantage, is expected to develop into a transit hub for the Asia-Pacific region. As routes expand, business opportunities for transit and tourism are heating up, injecting vitality into the tourism industry.
The Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, recently pointed out that based on airport distribution data from Asia-Pacific to North America, Taoyuan Airport has an advantage in the Southeast Asia-North America transit market, especially for West Coast routes.
Both industry players and academics are optimistic about Taiwan's geographical location. Chung Kai-cheng, Vice President of EVA Air's Planning Department, told CNA that Taiwan is at the heart of East Asia, connecting North America and Asia. The shortest flight to North America is about 11 hours, and the longest is 16 hours. Transit to major Southeast Asian cities is mostly within 4 hours, and transit time in Taipei is 2 to 4 hours, allowing ample rest time for flights from Taipei to the United States.
Chung Kai-cheng mentioned that Taiwan's advanced semiconductor industry is a major center in the global supply chain, driving demand for business travel between Taiwan and the US, and extending to Southeast Asia.
Liu Yun-fu, Chief Strategy Officer of STARLUX Airlines, believes that European routes have significant potential to attract European travelers to transit through Taiwan to Japan and Korea.
Professor Huang Cheng-tsung of Providence University's Department of Tourism believes that compared to the busy airports in Hong Kong and Singapore, Taiwan is attractive to transit passengers. With the future activation of Taoyuan Airport's third terminal and third runway, capacity is estimated to increase by over 50%, alleviating the burden on existing terminals and significantly improving service quality, thereby enhancing international competitiveness.
Professor Huang Tai-lin of Chang Jung Christian University's Department of Shipping and Transportation Management said that currently, transit passengers account for about 15% of Taoyuan Airport's total, which is still relatively low, making it more of an "origin-destination (O&D) airport." Compared to mature hub airports like Singapore Changi, Hong Kong, and Incheon (South Korea), Taoyuan Airport still lags in terms of the number of destinations, terminal scale, and airline density. However, he also noted that once passenger volume reaches a certain scale, it will attract airlines to open more destinations, gradually accumulating overall competitiveness.
In response, Chen Chao-yu, Section Chief of the Planning Division, Civil Aeronautics Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, said that Taiwan's international and cross-strait passenger traffic is expected to reach 62 million passengers this year, setting a new historical high. The growth momentum comes from multiple aspects, including the gradual arrival of new aircraft for domestic airlines, transit passengers traveling between Southeast Asia and North America, and increased flights and new routes by foreign airlines.
Chen Chao-yu pointed out that government subsidies and station preferential measures have promoted the accelerated recovery of international flights. The basic infrastructure of the North Concourse of Taoyuan Airport's third terminal was officially activated at the end of 2025. Coupled with the strong aviation growth momentum in the Asia-Pacific region, all these provide solid support for the overall traffic increase.
As domestic airlines establish more routes in Europe and America, it is also beneficial for the tourism industry. Lin Guan-xian, Vice President of the Marketing Department at Cola Tour, said that in the past, most East Coast US products were single-point entry and exit. With EVA Air launching flights to Washington D.C., combined with existing Toronto and New York routes, different entry and exit points can add highlights to itineraries. As for STARLUX Airlines launching flights to Prague, Czech Republic, it targets the high-end tourism market.
Lai Yi-ching, General Manager of Lion Travel, stated that Washington D.C. and Prague previously lacked direct flights, and transit was time-consuming. Now that direct routes are open, travelers' willingness to travel has increased, and market inquiries have significantly risen.
Huang Tai-lin analyzed that in addition to aerospace museums, Washington D.C. has rich political and economic landmarks and tourist resources. Future integration with travel product packaging has the opportunity to expand the free independent traveler and group tour markets.
He said that currently, direct flights to Washington D.C. are concentrated in northern Asian international airports such as Incheon (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), and Beijing (China). In the future, Taiwanese airlines' promotion combined with tourism authorities' promotion is expected to attract East Coast US travelers to visit Taiwan. EVA Air's current layout is bold and precise, "after all, Washington D.C. is a blue ocean, unlike New York which is a red ocean."
Huang Ho-ting, Deputy Director-General of the Tourism Administration, said that over 94% of visitors to Taiwan currently enter and exit by air. The increase in air transport volume has a critical impact on attracting tourists to Taiwan. The government welcomes airlines to increase routes and flights to Taiwan and will offer half-day transit preferential measures to encourage transit passengers to experience the beauty of Taiwan, thereby stimulating tourism business opportunities along the airport and its surroundings. (Editors: Yu Hsiao-han, Wang Shu-fen, Huang Chiao-wen, Chen Ching-fang) 1150503
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The Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, recently pointed out that based on airport distribution data from Asia-Pacific to North America, Taoyuan Airport has an advantage in the Southeast Asia-North America transit market, especially for West Coast routes.
Both industry players and academics are optimistic about Taiwan's geographical location. Chung Kai-cheng, Vice President of EVA Air's Planning Department, told CNA that Taiwan is at the heart of East Asia, connecting North America and Asia. The shortest flight to North America is about 11 hours, and the longest is 16 hours. Transit to major Southeast Asian cities is mostly within 4 hours, and transit time in Taipei is 2 to 4 hours, allowing ample rest time for flights from Taipei to the United States.
Chung Kai-cheng mentioned that Taiwan's advanced semiconductor industry is a major center in the global supply chain, driving demand for business travel between Taiwan and the US, and extending to Southeast Asia.
Liu Yun-fu, Chief Strategy Officer of STARLUX Airlines, believes that European routes have significant potential to attract European travelers to transit through Taiwan to Japan and Korea.
Professor Huang Cheng-tsung of Providence University's Department of Tourism believes that compared to the busy airports in Hong Kong and Singapore, Taiwan is attractive to transit passengers. With the future activation of Taoyuan Airport's third terminal and third runway, capacity is estimated to increase by over 50%, alleviating the burden on existing terminals and significantly improving service quality, thereby enhancing international competitiveness.
Professor Huang Tai-lin of Chang Jung Christian University's Department of Shipping and Transportation Management said that currently, transit passengers account for about 15% of Taoyuan Airport's total, which is still relatively low, making it more of an "origin-destination (O&D) airport." Compared to mature hub airports like Singapore Changi, Hong Kong, and Incheon (South Korea), Taoyuan Airport still lags in terms of the number of destinations, terminal scale, and airline density. However, he also noted that once passenger volume reaches a certain scale, it will attract airlines to open more destinations, gradually accumulating overall competitiveness.
In response, Chen Chao-yu, Section Chief of the Planning Division, Civil Aeronautics Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, said that Taiwan's international and cross-strait passenger traffic is expected to reach 62 million passengers this year, setting a new historical high. The growth momentum comes from multiple aspects, including the gradual arrival of new aircraft for domestic airlines, transit passengers traveling between Southeast Asia and North America, and increased flights and new routes by foreign airlines.
Chen Chao-yu pointed out that government subsidies and station preferential measures have promoted the accelerated recovery of international flights. The basic infrastructure of the North Concourse of Taoyuan Airport's third terminal was officially activated at the end of 2025. Coupled with the strong aviation growth momentum in the Asia-Pacific region, all these provide solid support for the overall traffic increase.
As domestic airlines establish more routes in Europe and America, it is also beneficial for the tourism industry. Lin Guan-xian, Vice President of the Marketing Department at Cola Tour, said that in the past, most East Coast US products were single-point entry and exit. With EVA Air launching flights to Washington D.C., combined with existing Toronto and New York routes, different entry and exit points can add highlights to itineraries. As for STARLUX Airlines launching flights to Prague, Czech Republic, it targets the high-end tourism market.
Lai Yi-ching, General Manager of Lion Travel, stated that Washington D.C. and Prague previously lacked direct flights, and transit was time-consuming. Now that direct routes are open, travelers' willingness to travel has increased, and market inquiries have significantly risen.
Huang Tai-lin analyzed that in addition to aerospace museums, Washington D.C. has rich political and economic landmarks and tourist resources. Future integration with travel product packaging has the opportunity to expand the free independent traveler and group tour markets.
He said that currently, direct flights to Washington D.C. are concentrated in northern Asian international airports such as Incheon (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), and Beijing (China). In the future, Taiwanese airlines' promotion combined with tourism authorities' promotion is expected to attract East Coast US travelers to visit Taiwan. EVA Air's current layout is bold and precise, "after all, Washington D.C. is a blue ocean, unlike New York which is a red ocean."
Huang Ho-ting, Deputy Director-General of the Tourism Administration, said that over 94% of visitors to Taiwan currently enter and exit by air. The increase in air transport volume has a critical impact on attracting tourists to Taiwan. The government welcomes airlines to increase routes and flights to Taiwan and will offer half-day transit preferential measures to encourage transit passengers to experience the beauty of Taiwan, thereby stimulating tourism business opportunities along the airport and its surroundings. (Editors: Yu Hsiao-han, Wang Shu-fen, Huang Chiao-wen, Chen Ching-fang) 1150503
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.