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.

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Benefits of PAL–Southwest partnership for travelers

Now passengers of nonstop Manila to SFO flights have seamless connections to the US cities where Philippine Airlines does not directly fly to. The same applies to those flying from Manila to Seattle with their final destinations located elsewhere in the US. The PAL-Southwest partnership facilitates single-ticket journeys to the final destination in the United States through Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Honolulu.

Precisely, you can book flights between USA and Philippines with seamless domestic travel to/from Chicago, Phoenix, Austin, Houston, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Detroit, Denver, Charlotte, Boston, and other US cities. It eliminates the hassles of booking Southwest Airlines’ tickets separately and the worries about Southwest Airlines’ paid baggage allowance in the US. On top of that, Philippine Airlines’ checked baggage allowance (according to your travel class and fare type) applies to your domestic leg with Southwest Airlines.

EVA Air and China Airlines also partnered with Southwest

It seems that Southwest Airlines is an emerging populist carrier feeding international flights to and from USA. Other Asian carriers, like China Airlines and EVA Air operating flights between USA and Taiwan, have chosen Southwest Airlines as their interline partner. In August 2025, EVA Air signed an interline agreement with Southwest, allowing its travelers to fly far and wide in the US through LAX, SFO, ORD and SeaTac airports. China Airlines’ interline partnership with Southwest will take effect in January 2026.

Southwest’s new wheelchair policy applies to Philippine Airlines

Starting in 2026, Southwest Airlines will end its long-criticized wheelchair-first boarding policy. As a result, passengers transferring from Philippine Airlines to Southwest’s domestic flights within the US will no longer receive priority boarding at US airports. However, Southwest Airlines will continue to provide wheelchair assistance across its network.

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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.

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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.

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Manila’s second international airport in Bulacan province 

Significantly larger than Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila’s second airport NMIA project would cost US $15 billion. The construction of the first terminal building is scheduled to begin in January 2026, with the first phase being anticipated to be operational in late 2028. Given the NMIA project details, the upcoming airport in Bulacan, 30 minutes north of Manila, is expected to the Philippines’ main gateway to the world in the future. 

Manila Bulacan International Airport Infrastructure   

The new Manila International Airport will be more advanced than Ninoy Aquino Airport in terms of area, runways, passenger capacity, and accessibility. NMIA would spread over 2500 hectares (6200 acres) along the Manila Bay, as part of the 12,000-hectare airport city project in Bulacan province. The second Manila airport project details include 4 parallel runways with the capacity to expand to six in the future.

Second Manila Airport NMIA Project Timeline

Bulacan International Airport, Manila will be constructed in a phased way starting January 2026. As per the NMIA project timeline, the first phase is expected to open with one terminal and two runways by late 2028 aiming to serve 35 million passengers a year, if things go as planned. On completion of all phases, the airport would have the capacity to handle 100 million passenger traffic in a year.

Philippines New Manila Airport Connectivity

Philippines’ New Manila International Airport will not only cater to Metro Manila but also neighboring areas like Central Luzon and CALABARZON. A comprehensive accessibility network comprising a 6-lane Expressway will facilitate commute between Metro Manila and the upcoming airport in Bulacan. There are plans to extend Manila Metro’s 7 Line to the airport for a great deal of convenience.

For decades, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has been the primary gateway for flights to Philippines from the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asian countries. In 2024 itself, NAIA served 50.1 million passengers; the overcapacity burdens the airport infrastructure. Manila’s second international airport will not only share the passenger traffic but also open more international routes to/from Manila. With two international airports – NAIA and NMIA, the Philippine capital would become a premier destination for travel and trade.

Subscribe to Fly High for news stories of the Philippines, the US, and other destinations. Fly High is a leading travel community portal by iEagle.com, the most trusted air-ticketing partner for Filipinos and other immigrants in the US. Look no farther than iEagle for phone-only budget flight deals (+1-855-359-3245) and cheap airline tickets to Manila from New York, San Francisco, and other US cities.

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What is the new Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC)?

The new online arrival card for Taiwan is an end-to-end digital entry requirement for most foreign nationals. International visitors to Taiwan will be required to apply for the arrival card online before boarding their flights to Taipei. This digital declaration will replace the current paper-based system, making entry into the country smoother and more efficient.

Who needs digital Arrival Card for Taiwan?

From October 2025, all foreign visitors including US citizens and Filipinos, who do not hold permanent or temporary resident status in Taiwan, will need to apply for the digital arrival card. Whether you are a holiday tourist or a business traveler, you must have completed online application for the Taiwan Arrival Card before departure of your Dallas to Taipei flight or before immigration clearance on arrival at Taoyuan International Airport.

How to apply for Taiwan Arrival Card online: A quick guide

You can apply for TWAC online via the official portal: twac.immigration.gov.tw.

It is recommended to make the online application within three days prior to your scheduled departure. However, if you are unable to do so in advance, you can fill out the online form at the departure airport or upon arrival in Taiwan. Furthermore, kiosks and staff assistance will be available at Taiwan airports to help travelers complete the digital TWAC application.

Upon successful completion and validation of the Taiwan Arrival Card online form, you will receive a confirmation email containing a QR code. While this QR code can be presented at immigration, in most scenarios, the immigration officers will simply scan your passport.

The system will then instantly retrieve your pre-submitted digital declaration in the TWAC form, significantly streamlining the immigration clearance process. This efficient system is designed to make entry into Taiwan swift and seamless for international visitors, especially after long-haul flights from New York to Taipei.

What information required for TWAC form online

The new Taiwan digital arrival card requires information similar to what is currently requested on the paper form, but with the added convenience of digital input. To complete the TWAC application online, you typically need to provide:

• Passport details
• Flight or ship details
• Details of your stay in Taiwan
• Your reachable contact number in Taiwan
• Reason for travel
• Occupation

I am traveling to Taipei in a group. Do I need to apply for a Taiwan Arrival Card for each traveler in the group?

For family holidays or group travel, Taiwan’s digital arrival card offers a significant advantage. You can register up to 16 people through a single form online. This would save you a lot of time before or after Newark to Taipei flights, so you could focus more on planning your trip.

Can I update my information in the TWAC form post submission? 

The ease of updating or modifying your information online is one of the benefits of digital Taiwan Arrival Card. If your travel itinerary or accommodation changes after you have submitted the TWAC application form online, you can use the “Update” section to modify your details before you arrive at Taoyuan International Airport.

Who don’t need to apply for Taiwan Arrival Card? Who are exempted?

Exemption from the Taiwan Arrival Card online effective starting October 2025 is given to Taiwanese nationals with household registration, and foreign nationals holding a Republic of China (Taiwan) Resident Certificate, a Resident Visa, or a diplomatic ID card. They don’t need to submit any TWAC form online or offline for their travel to Taiwan.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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