Taipei-Washington DC nonstop flights: Key details

The United States being the second largest international market for EVA Air, nonstop flights from Washington Dulles IAD to Taipei would further connect to Manila, Cebu, Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Ho Chi Minh City. Starting in July 2026, the new service may have four weekly roundtrip frequency. EVA Air would take around 16 hours for a one-way trip from Taipei to D.C., making it one of the longest nonstop flights.

Competition to EVA Air’s Washington Dulles-Taipei service

EVA Air is strategically targeting Washington Dulles IAD as its tenth US gateway, as few Asian airlines cater to the US capital city. Much to the pleasure of EVA Air, Washington DC is not among the US destinations of Philippines Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Hainan Airlines. Cathay Pacific stopped flying to Dulles IAD Airport in November 2020. Interestingly, the Washington DC to Taiwan route will see no competition between EVA Air and its arch rival, China Airlines.

Prospects of Dulles IAD to Taiwan for EVA Air

The DMV region encompassing Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, holds good prospects for the upcoming EVA Air flights between Dulles IAD and Taipei. Since other major airlines are neither serving this route nor connecting D.C. to other Asian markets, both direct traffic to Taiwan and connecting traffic to Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore will fill EVA Air seats.

Not only the Taiwanese, but also Filipinos, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai immigrants from the DMV region will be looking to book EVA Air flight tickets for seamless connections to their home countries via Taipei. Look no further than iEagle.com for cheap flights to Taipei from USA. iEagle, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Asian immigrants in America, offers phone-only budget flight deals to Manila, Cebu, Bangkok, Hanoi, and Singapore.

The post EVA Air Announces Washington Dulles to Taipei Flights; Good for Asian Immigrants in DMV Region appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

How A350-1000 Supports Philippine Airlines Flights to USA

Philippines Airlines’ long-haul service network has long been demanding an upgrade to the existing fleet. The network comprises nonstop flights to Manila from New York JFK, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Toronto, and Vancouver in North America. Some of these routes are served by B777-300ER aircraft, while A350-900s cater to others. The long-range capacity and fuel efficiency make Airbus A350-1000 suitable for SFO to Manila travel and other high-traffic transpacific routes.

The new A350-1000 is expected to gradually complement and eventually replace older widebody aircraft on high-demand transpacific routes

PAL ramps up frequency between Manila and USA

Alongside fleet expansion, Philippine Airlines has been steadily increasing its international service frequency to meet the growing demand. Starting June 2026, the airline will ramp up its Los Angeles to Manila flights, with weekly frequency from 14 to 18. This expansion will strengthen connectivity between the Philippines and the US West Coast, a key market for both family, leisure, and business travel. Manila to Seattle travel on Philippines Airlines has already got an upgrade from three to five weekly flights.

Additional frequency enables travelers to book affordable flight tickets to Manila on flexible travel dates. At the same time, PAL has also strengthened its presence in US territories. Its daily Manila to Guam service is now complemented by weekly three nonstop flights from Cebu to Guam. Besides, Philippines Airlines’ nonstop Manila to Saipan flights are all set to resume in March 2026.

Look no further than iEagle.com for Philippines Airlines flight deals on USA to Manila and Cebu travel. iEagle, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Filipinos in America, books affordable travel between Philippines and USA with major airlines, including EVA Air.

What makes Airbus A350-1000 a better fit for PAL than Boeing 777-9

A350-1000 aircraft represents a leap forward in long-haul aircraft design, with performance and passenger comfort at its core, making it an ideal match for PAL’s long-haul network expansion. Compared with the Boeing 777-9, the A350-1000 delivers similar long-range capability while offering exceptional fuel efficiency and lower operating costs, thanks to advanced aerodynamics, a carbon-fiber composite structure, and next-generation engines.

The aircraft features a modern cabin experience across all classes, from Business to Economy. Business class offers a 1-2-1 layout with fully lie-flat seats, direct aisle access, intuitive inflight entertainment, and enhanced privacy. Premium Economy provides wider seats, extra legroom, and dedicated service for travelers seeking added comfort without the full business-class fare. Economy class on the A350-1000 includes optimized seat ergonomics, improved personal space, and larger overhead bins.

The post Philippines Airlines Takes Delivery of Airbus A350-1000; Know What It Means for Long-Haul Flights and Flyers appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

This year, Southwest began rolling out a series of changes that continue to challenge its long-standing image as ‘America’s most budget-friendly carrier’. The airline ended its iconic ‘Bags Fly Free’ policy with new checked bag fees effective from May 2025. It has also announced elimination of its five-decade-old open seating program from January 27, 2026.

What is Southwest Airlines’ Wheelchair-First Boarding Service?

Southwest Airlines’ wheelchair-first boarding service allows passengers who requested wheelchair assistance to board the aircraft before all other travellers, providing early access to seats and overhead bins. Designed to help passengers with limited mobility, the policy also became a boarding advantage for many who don’t  require wheelchair support at all, leading to operational challenges, delays, and misuse across US airports.

Why is Southwest Airlines Ending Wheelchair-First Boarding?

Southwest’s internal data of recent years revealed the scale of wheelchair misuse. On one recent flight with only 85 passengers, 28 people requested wheelchairs during boarding. Yet only 2 or 3 needed assistance while deplaning. Some Southwest flights have even reported more than 100 wheelchair requests.

Staff reports suggest that over 80 percent of these requests come from passengers who do not require mobility assistance. The incentive is clear. Early boarding means guaranteed overhead bin space, less waiting time in line, and a more comfortable boarding experience.

Rules for International Travelers Connecting to Southwest Flights 

Southwest Airlines acts as a leading interline partner of several international carriers operating flights from the USA to Philippines, Taiwan, and other countries. Their international passengers connect on Southwest flights for domestic travel from major entry points in the US. are fully entitled to wheelchair assistance in the United States under DOT guidelines. While wheelchair assistance continues, passengers will no longer receive priority boarding solely due to wheelchair use.

How are Other Airlines Addressing Wheelchair Misuse?

Several non-US airlines around the world are also experiencing misuse of free wheelchair service. Air India, a major international carrier, has also experienced unusual demand for wheelchair assistance at airports. On some India–US flights, up to 90–120 passengers request wheelchairs, often to bypass long airport queues. Recently, the Government of India allowed airlines to charge able-bodied passengers for wheelchair use. This differs from the United States, where there is yet no such rule. 

Southwest Airlines’ decision to end wheelchair-first boarding will close one of the biggest loopholes in US aviation. Though the culture of ‘Airport VIP for free’ in the United States will continue, as most US airlines do not ask for medical certificates or documents to fulfil wheelchair requests.

Travelers React to Southwest Ending Wheelchair-First Boarding

The news of Southwest Airlines ending wheelchair-first boarding has drawn mixed reactions from travellers. Many welcome it as a much-needed step to reduce abuse and make boarding fairer, while others worry that passengers with genuine needs may face longer lines and difficulty securing preferred seats. Several travellers shared personal observations of passengers requesting wheelchairs just to board early and then leaving the plane faster than them, echoing the popular US airport joke about “Jetway Jesus.”

Subscribe to Fly High for significant travel updates, domestic and international. Fly High is a leading air travel news portal by iEagle.com, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Americans and immigrants in the US. Look no further than iEagle for airlines’ Black Friday flight deals from USA to Manila, Shanghai, Cebu, Beijing, Bangkok, Addis Ababa, Taipei and other South Asian destinations.

Will Southwest Airlines continue to provide wheelchair assistance after ending wheelchair-first boarding?

Yes. Passengers will continue to get wheelchair support from entry to boarding through security, regardless of the fact whether they genuinely need it. The only change is that requesting a wheelchair will no longer give them the privilege of early boarding.

The post No More Wheelchair-First Boarding in 2026: Southwest Airlines to Curb Wheelchair Misuse at US Airports appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

This development in the US-Taiwan corridor opens further connections to Southeast Asian countries via Taipei for Filipinos, Vietnamese, and Thai immigrants in and around Arizona. Starlux Airlines and China Airlines would transform Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix into a significant US-Asia hub with flights to Taipei and beyond for Southeast Asians concentrated in the south coast of USA.

China Airlines

Among the best airlines operating between USA and Asia, China Airlines is the first Asian carrier to connect Taipei to Arizona, starting December 3, 2025. China Airlines will be operating Phoenix to Taipei flights for weekly three round trips scheduled as below:

Nonstop CI036 flights from Taipei (TPE) to Phoenix (PHX):

• Departure from Taipei Taoyuan at 10:55 AM local time.
• Arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor at 8 AM local time

CI035 flights from Phoenix to Taipei via Los Angeles

• Departure from Phoenix at 11:55 AM local time
• Arrival at Taipei Taoyuan at 9:30 PM local time the next day

The upcoming service to Phoenix, Arizona will solidify China Airlines’ presence in the southwest coast of USA. In the next phase, China Airlines may expand to Texas, a key market for EVA Air.

Starlux Airlines

Among the youngest airlines in the world, Starlux Airlines is close on the heels of China Airlines, with its plans in progress for nonstop Arizona to Taiwan flights. Starlux, renowned for its distinctive boutique flying experience since 2020, will lunch Phoenix Taipei nonstop service on 15 January 2026 with weekly three flights – Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Outbound flight (JX026) from Taipei to Phoenix:   

• Departure from Taipei Taoyuan at 8:45 PM local time
• Arrival in Phoenix Sky Harbor at 5:40 PM local time

Return flight (JX025) from Phoenix to Taipei:  

• Departure from Phoenix at 10:45 PM local time
• Arrival in Taipei Taoyuan at 4:55 AM local time (+2 days)

Both the Taiwanese carriers – China Airlines and Starlux Airlines – will be deploying the most advanced A350-900s with Premium Economy experience for nonstop PHX to TPE service with connecting flights to Manila, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Thailand.

The post Phoenix to Taipei Flights: Two Airlines Entering Arizona-Taiwan Sector with Connection to Manila and Other Cities appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

This AI-generated image is for representation purpose only

Doubling San Francisco to Manila frequency 

Furthermore, the two daily SFO to Manila flights solidify United’s position as the only American carrier serving the Philippines at both Manila and Cebu. For Filipinos in the US, it provides a direct and reliable link to home. Zeroing in on the frequency underscores United’s commitment to fulfilling the growing demand for travel between the two countries, whether for business, leisure, or family trips. 

Direct flights to Adelaide, Australia 

United Airlines is also bolstering its presence in Australia with the introduction of weekly three seasonal flights from San Francisco to Adelaide. This new route is particularly noteworthy because it makes United the only airline to offer direct, nonstop service from the US to four major Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Adelaide is one of the few emerging summer destinations for Americans to escape winter. Besides, travelers from Adelaide will get access to United Airlines’ vast domestic network through San Francisco, a major hub in the West Coast.

Fifth Freedom Flights: Bangkok & Ho Chi Minh City 

In October 2026, United is launching services to Bangkok, Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, via Hong Kong. Termed “fifth freedom” flights (intra-East Asian services) between Hong Kong to Bangkok and Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City, the upcoming routes will largely be operated as extensions to the existing United flights to Hong Kong from Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“For East Asian communities in the US, these new routes mean fewer layovers, shorter travel times, and more direct access to their home cities across East Asia, fostering stronger connections and cultural exchanges.”

The post United Doubles Frequency to Manila and Adds Adelaide, Bangkok, Vietnam to Its Asia Pacific Network appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

International aviation analysts have concerns about the profitability of adding Ontario International Airport to STARLUX’s US network. Nonstop flights to Ontario in the Greater Los Angeles Area provide travelers a convenient alternative to the often-congested Los Angeles International Airport. Furthermore, Ontario International Airport (ONT) carries considerable strategic weight, particularly given California is home to one of the largest and most diverse Asian-American community in the Greater Los Angeles area.

More than just an 11.5-hour long-haul flight, STARLUX Airlines’ Taipei-Ontario service acts as a vital link to the airline’s extensive network of over 27 destinations on 32 routes across Asia through its hub, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Passengers can now fly between ONT and TPE on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with STARLUX’s next-gen Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

This is somewhat good for Filipinos in Southern California, and Americans traveling to Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore via Taipei. They can now travel on one-stop flights from Ontario to Manila, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, with cheap flight tickets from iEagle.com, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Americans and Asian immigrant communities in the US.

Taipei-Ontario is the only route where STARLUX Airlines has no competition from other Taiwanese airlines – EVA Air and China Airlines – which also operate to Los Angeles and San Francisco. STARLUX Airlines’ new service combined with its existing daily flights to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) significantly enhances travel flexibility and convenience for passengers flying into and out of California.

This expansion significantly underscores STARLUX Airlines’ ambition to elevate trans-Pacific connectivity with its signature premium service. With expansive future plans already in motion, including additional U.S. destinations like Phoenix, Arizona slated for early 2026, STARLUX is rapidly growing as a leading international luxury carrier for US-bound travelers from Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

The post STARLUX Airlines Adds Taipei to Ontario Nonstop Flights to Its US-Taiwan Network appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

Currently, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ontario, and Seattle are the only direct destinations of China Airlines flights to USA from Taiwan. But the newly announced partnership excludes New York JFK Airport. Southwest Airlines, one of the four largest domestic airlines in the US, will be providing seamless connections to and from the West Coast for China Airlines’ passengers from China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.

Having good strategic presence at Los Angles International Airport, Southwest Airlines is expected to fill up China Airlines flights from LAX to Taipei with passengers for Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Just like Alaska Airlines, as an interline partner, feeds China Airlines’ outbound flights from Seattle and San Francisco.

While EVA Air, another Taiwanese airline, operates direct flights to Chicago, Dallas, and Houston from Taipei, China Airlines’ passengers will connect on Southwest flights to these major US cities. Only cheap flight deals for USA to China travel, and USA and Hong Kong travel can make the Southwest-China Airlines partnership effective in winning EVA Air passengers from Chicago, Dallas, and Houston.

It is anticipated that China Airlines’ interline agreement with Southwest Airlines may lead to codeshare partnership in the future. Come 2026, Southwest Airlines passengers will get seamless connectivity to Taipei, Beijing, Wuhan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, and Cebu among China Airlines’ destinations.

Whether you prefer China Airlines or EVA Air flights, look no further than iEagle.com for US to China best flight deals, and cheap airline tickets to Philippines. Americans and immigrants in the US equally trust iEagle Travel as the most reliable air-ticketing partner for their budget international travel.

The post Southwest Partners with China Airlines to Offer Seamless Travel beyond West Coast; Good for Flyers from Taiwan, China, Philippines appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

Starting October 3, 2025, EVA Air will operate five weekly flights from DFW to Taipei and provide further connections to the Philippines, China, and Japan. While this route will most likely get Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, details about the aircraft are yet to be confirmed. The Taiwanese airline is also planning to serve two more cities—Boston (BOS) and Washington DC (IAD) in the next phase. However, details about these destinations are yet to be revealed by the airline. Stay tuned to get the latest updates on that!

The Dallas-Taipei travel market is quite small given only 24,000 passengers traveled along this route in a year, as of the July 2024 data. However, the airline is looking beyond point-to-point traffic and aiming to connect passengers from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex on flights to Philippines and other Asian destinations through Taipei. The decision to launch passenger flights to Dallas resonates with the airline’s vision of “Flying into the Future”. 

EVA Air’s upcoming Dallas route seems to be an alternative to the airline’s existing flights from Houston. It flies daily to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Direct DFW to Taipei flights will seamlessly connect Americans other than the Chinese and Filipino expats to Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hanoi for holiday trips. Filipinos from the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area will get one-stop Dallas to Manila flights via Taipei.       

In the next phase, two more US cities, Boston and Washington DC, may be connected directly to Taipei and neighboring countries. These cities have been shortlisted strategically since they house a considerable population of Asian immigrants including Filipinos who book flights to Cebu and Manila. As per the latest data, approximately 200,000 Filipino Americans live in the DMV region (Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia); and around 27,000 in Boston and neighboring cities. So they will get a seamless one-stop connection to their home destinations via Taipei.

The post It’s Official: EVA Air Flights to Dallas Taking off in 2025; Plans in Place to Connect Boston & Washington DC appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

Currently, Philippine Airlines boasts a whopping market share of 40-50% in the US-Philippines travel corridor. It aims to further increase its market share by expanding its US network both through direct/indirect flights and codes-haring. PAL has picked Chicago, Houston, and Las Vegas strategically as these cities house hundreds of thousands of Filipinos. Let’s see what numbers have to say:

• Chicago: One of the top cities for Filipino Americans, with approximately 145,000 Filipinos living in the Chicago metropolitan area.
• Houston: A major hub for Filipino Americans! The state of Texas houses more than 222,000 Filipinos, mostly concentrated in and around Houston, thanks to its size and diversity.
• Las Vegas: A great number of Filipinos (around 147,000) reside in the Las Vegas metro area due to ample employment opportunities in the hospitality and service industries​.

The post Philippine Airlines Plans Nonstop Flights to Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas in 2025; A Direct Competition to EVA Air appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

To make flight connections as hassle-free as possible, Delta Air Lines is planning to eliminate baggage recheck-in for international arrivals in USA. At present, travelers are required to collect their checked-in bags after arriving at an international airport in the USA, go through customs, and then recheck-in the bags for their connecting domestic flight. This will end once Delta rolls out the through baggage check-in policy, wherein the airline will transport your checked bags all the way to your final destination, thus saving you the time and hassle of rechecking bags on connecting flights.

The pilot program, in its first phase, will be rolled out for travelers from South Korea’s Seoul Incheon International Airport and Japan’s Tokyo-Haneda International Airport at the earliest this year. Delta will then extend the program to cover its passengers from London and Frankfurt, and eventually, for all US-bound travelers from Asia and Europe with onward domestic connections in the US. 

Delta Airlines currently operates nonstop flights from Seoul to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), and Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW). International passengers arriving at these Delta hub airports won’t have to re-check-in baggage for onward domestic connections to New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Honolulu and other US cities in Delta’s domestic network.

At present, only those travelers arriving from foreign airports with the US Preclearance facility can skip baggage recheck-in and customs clearance (among other inspections) upon arrival in USA.

The likely elimination of the current baggage recheck-in mandate will enable travelers to lounge away for some extra time between flights. This may also bring down minimum connection time for your flights, meaning layovers will be shorter in future. As per reports, Delta Airlines is in talks with the US government officials regarding a pilot trial in 2024. Hope other US airlines would follow suit sooner or later.

The post Delta Air Lines to Eliminate Baggage Recheck-in for Passengers from Seoul & Tokyo, with Domestic Connections in USA appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.