Middle East Conflict Drives Up Oil Prices, But National Airlines' Network Expansion Undeterred
Despite soaring oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, Taiwanese airlines are continuing their plans to expand their European and American route networks. EVA Air is launching new flights to Washington D.C., Starlux Airlines to Prague, and China Airlines is also planning to expand its US routes, emphasizing long-term strategic deployment.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 10:06
- 🔍 Collected: May 3, 2026 at 10:31 (25 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 3, 2026 at 13:04 (2h 32m after Collected)
Taiwanese airlines are actively expanding into European and American markets after overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, renewed conflict in the Middle East has caused fuel costs to soar, forcing the industry to reduce flights and adjust fares. However, route network expansion remains unhindered by the situation, proceeding according to established plans.
EVA Air will launch its 8th passenger route to the United States in June, flying directly to Washington D.C. Starlux Airlines is expanding its European and American routes, with its first choice being Prague, Czech Republic. China Airlines also has plans to expand its US routes, but this depends on new aircraft deliveries.
EVA Air entered the US market in late 1992, successively opening routes to Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, and Dallas. In June, it will add Washington D.C. Among these, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, and Washington D.C. are routes exclusively flown by Taiwanese national carriers.
Currently, there are 184 weekly flights between Taiwan and North America, nearly 90% of which are US routes, with 163 direct flights. EVA Air accounts for nearly half, with 80 weekly flights, increasing to 84 after the Washington D.C. launch, exceeding half of the total flights. China Airlines follows with 33 weekly flights (reaching 34 in August due to increased New York flights), and the rising star Starlux Airlines has 29 weekly flights.
The other 21 flights are operated by United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, serving Taiwan to San Francisco and Seattle routes, not only meeting the needs for tourism, business, visiting relatives, and studying abroad, but also targeting transit passengers traveling between the US and Southeast Asia.
A 2023 report by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Institute of Transportation analyzed potential direct flight destinations in the US that Taiwan does not yet serve, including Washington, Boston, Dallas, and Atlanta. Chung Kai-cheng, Vice President of EVA Air's Planning Office, stated in an exclusive interview with Central News Agency that Boston is a future East Coast US destination under evaluation.
Benefiting from the US Open Skies policy, foreign airlines do not need to sign air service agreements, and there is no limit on flights, only requiring approval. EVA Air's lead over its Taiwanese counterparts is attributed to its more flexible aircraft procurement plan, being the first to introduce the Boeing 777-300ER in 2005 to replace the 747, and further introducing the dreamliner Boeing 787 in 2018. These two models are the main long-haul fleet. The airline has also ordered 24 A350-1000s, with the first scheduled to enter service next year, gradually replacing the 777-300ER models.
After the COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) pandemic eased in 2023, Starlux Airlines accelerated its expansion of long-haul routes, already having five West Coast US destinations: Los Angeles, Ontario, San Francisco, Seattle, and Phoenix. In August, it will enter Europe, launching flights to Prague, Czech Republic, establishing a presence in both Europe and America, similar to EVA Air and China Airlines.
Starlux Airlines was the first to introduce the A350-1000 model, having ordered 18 aircraft, with the first entering service in February this year. New aircraft are continuously arriving and will form the main long-haul fleet alongside the current 10 A350-900s. As opening routes to Canada and Europe requires air service agreements and sufficient flight capacity, Starlux Airlines' expansion in the US will be faster.
China Airlines was the earliest to enter the US market, successively opening routes to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle since the 1970s. At the end of last year, it was the first to establish a presence in the emerging technology city of Phoenix. Currently, it is striving for faster delivery of new aircraft, including 15 A350-1000s and 10 777Xs, which it will introduce ahead of the other two national airlines, preparing for future expansion in the Eastern United States.
The Middle East conflict has been ongoing for over two months, and soaring oil prices are a pain point for global airlines. According to CPC Corporation's announcement in early April, international airline fuel prices have reached US$1.2816 per liter (approximately NT$41), an increase of 122% compared to before the outbreak of the Middle East conflict. However, all three national airlines emphasize that route planning is a long-term strategy and will proceed as planned.
Liu Yun-fu, Chief Strategy Officer of Starlux Airlines, admitted in an exclusive interview with Central News Agency that the Middle East conflict exceeded expectations, but route network planning will not be adjusted. However, cost pressures have surged, meaning the more they fly, the more they lose. Chung Kai-cheng, Vice President of EVA Air's Planning Office, said that oil prices are continuously rising, and even if the war ends, the after-effects of oil prices will continue for some time, predicted until the end of the year.
Due to their larger number of routes, EVA Air and China Airlines have seen a greater increase in fuel costs, estimated to exceed US$100 million per month. Although the Civil Aeronautics Administration agreed to increase fuel surcharges, it is still difficult to reflect the full fuel cost. For EVA Air, it is estimated that it will absorb 85% of the increased fuel costs for long-haul routes and 65% for short-haul routes.
Airlines are facing the choice between reducing flights and raising fares. According to Civil Aeronautics Administration statistics, 52.6 international flights will be canceled weekly in May. Chung Kai-cheng said that it is difficult to fully reflect costs in fare adjustments, fearing it would deter passengers. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150503
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EVA Air will launch its 8th passenger route to the United States in June, flying directly to Washington D.C. Starlux Airlines is expanding its European and American routes, with its first choice being Prague, Czech Republic. China Airlines also has plans to expand its US routes, but this depends on new aircraft deliveries.
EVA Air entered the US market in late 1992, successively opening routes to Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, and Dallas. In June, it will add Washington D.C. Among these, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, and Washington D.C. are routes exclusively flown by Taiwanese national carriers.
Currently, there are 184 weekly flights between Taiwan and North America, nearly 90% of which are US routes, with 163 direct flights. EVA Air accounts for nearly half, with 80 weekly flights, increasing to 84 after the Washington D.C. launch, exceeding half of the total flights. China Airlines follows with 33 weekly flights (reaching 34 in August due to increased New York flights), and the rising star Starlux Airlines has 29 weekly flights.
The other 21 flights are operated by United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, serving Taiwan to San Francisco and Seattle routes, not only meeting the needs for tourism, business, visiting relatives, and studying abroad, but also targeting transit passengers traveling between the US and Southeast Asia.
A 2023 report by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Institute of Transportation analyzed potential direct flight destinations in the US that Taiwan does not yet serve, including Washington, Boston, Dallas, and Atlanta. Chung Kai-cheng, Vice President of EVA Air's Planning Office, stated in an exclusive interview with Central News Agency that Boston is a future East Coast US destination under evaluation.
Benefiting from the US Open Skies policy, foreign airlines do not need to sign air service agreements, and there is no limit on flights, only requiring approval. EVA Air's lead over its Taiwanese counterparts is attributed to its more flexible aircraft procurement plan, being the first to introduce the Boeing 777-300ER in 2005 to replace the 747, and further introducing the dreamliner Boeing 787 in 2018. These two models are the main long-haul fleet. The airline has also ordered 24 A350-1000s, with the first scheduled to enter service next year, gradually replacing the 777-300ER models.
After the COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) pandemic eased in 2023, Starlux Airlines accelerated its expansion of long-haul routes, already having five West Coast US destinations: Los Angeles, Ontario, San Francisco, Seattle, and Phoenix. In August, it will enter Europe, launching flights to Prague, Czech Republic, establishing a presence in both Europe and America, similar to EVA Air and China Airlines.
Starlux Airlines was the first to introduce the A350-1000 model, having ordered 18 aircraft, with the first entering service in February this year. New aircraft are continuously arriving and will form the main long-haul fleet alongside the current 10 A350-900s. As opening routes to Canada and Europe requires air service agreements and sufficient flight capacity, Starlux Airlines' expansion in the US will be faster.
China Airlines was the earliest to enter the US market, successively opening routes to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle since the 1970s. At the end of last year, it was the first to establish a presence in the emerging technology city of Phoenix. Currently, it is striving for faster delivery of new aircraft, including 15 A350-1000s and 10 777Xs, which it will introduce ahead of the other two national airlines, preparing for future expansion in the Eastern United States.
The Middle East conflict has been ongoing for over two months, and soaring oil prices are a pain point for global airlines. According to CPC Corporation's announcement in early April, international airline fuel prices have reached US$1.2816 per liter (approximately NT$41), an increase of 122% compared to before the outbreak of the Middle East conflict. However, all three national airlines emphasize that route planning is a long-term strategy and will proceed as planned.
Liu Yun-fu, Chief Strategy Officer of Starlux Airlines, admitted in an exclusive interview with Central News Agency that the Middle East conflict exceeded expectations, but route network planning will not be adjusted. However, cost pressures have surged, meaning the more they fly, the more they lose. Chung Kai-cheng, Vice President of EVA Air's Planning Office, said that oil prices are continuously rising, and even if the war ends, the after-effects of oil prices will continue for some time, predicted until the end of the year.
Due to their larger number of routes, EVA Air and China Airlines have seen a greater increase in fuel costs, estimated to exceed US$100 million per month. Although the Civil Aeronautics Administration agreed to increase fuel surcharges, it is still difficult to reflect the full fuel cost. For EVA Air, it is estimated that it will absorb 85% of the increased fuel costs for long-haul routes and 65% for short-haul routes.
Airlines are facing the choice between reducing flights and raising fares. According to Civil Aeronautics Administration statistics, 52.6 international flights will be canceled weekly in May. Chung Kai-cheng said that it is difficult to fully reflect costs in fare adjustments, fearing it would deter passengers. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150503
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "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.