EVA Air Teases Southwest Partnership, New U.S. Route

In a series of posts on social media, EVA Air revealed its plan for a new airline partner in the United States, along with hinting at expansion to a new destination. The Taiwan-based carrier posted a graphic hinting at a new airline partnership with a tail that mirrors Southwest's Heart livery. 

It states, "Mark your calendars. On August 25th, your connections are about to get smoother, faster, and way more exciting."

Potential Partnerships

If the partner airline were Southwest, the arrangement would most likely be an interline agreement. Through an interline agreement, airlines can sell tickets that include flights operated by both carriers on the same itinerary. This is different from a codeshare, where one airline is allowed to market another airline’s flight as its own by placing its code on it.

For Southwest, this represents its plan to broaden its international partnerships.  It launched an interline agreement earlier this week with SkyTeam rival China Airlines for itineraries through Taipei from January 19, 2026. This agreement encompasses all six of China Airlines' destinations in the United States, including a new flight to Phoenix, Arizona, commencing in December. 

Earlier this year, the Dallas-based carrier announced its first interline with Icelandair, allowing for passengers traveling from Europe to connect to farther afield U.S. destinations. 

EVA Air codeshares with United Airlines, placing its code to connect to points beyond the United States. United Airlines prioritizes its relationship with All Nippon Airways (ANA): its joint venture partner. 

EVA Air currently interlines with Alaska Airlines, allowing for itineraries through Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Its Taiwanese premium rival, Starlux Airlines, recently announced an interline agreement with American Airlines. 

In a separate post across all of its social media platforms, the airline posted, "Your bucket list is about to get a lot longer. From coast to coast (and beyond), new adventures are coming your way. Are you ready to explore even more?"

In several interviews and earnings calls, EVA Air has highlighted that it is looking at Boston and Washington D.C. as two potential new destinations. Potential East Coast growth will be aided by the arrival of its first Airbus A350-1000s, expected to enter the fleet in mid-to-late 2026. 

It is unclear whether this announcement will include only one new route or several routes. Moreover, it is uncertain whether EVA Air has any new destinations on its shortlist. 

Another airport on its shortlist was Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), which will receive EVA Air service from October 3, 2025. The service will increase to daily in December 2025 on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. 

As far back as 2015, then EVA Air Chairman Chang Kuo-Wei stated that the airline was looking at service to Washington Dulles. Chang Kuo-Wei is now the Chairman of rival Starlux Airlines, after he was ousted from the family business when his father died in 2016. A source in late 2015 claimed that EVA Air was also looking at Boston for service in 2017 and beyond. 

Taiwanese China Airlines' President Cheng Han-Ming indicated that it is interested in Boston and Washington D.C. as well, per The Points Guy. 

A slew of new aircraft, like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, are enabling Taiwanese carriers to plot expansion to points farther afield. The Airbus A350-1000 is particularly suited for long-range missions to the East Coast of the United States. 

For five-year-old Starlux, it allows for new routes to Chicago and New York, potentially. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Starlux deepened connections between the U.S. and Taiwan, with new service to Los Angeles, Ontario (CA), Phoenix, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Taiwanese airlines have rapidly expanded transpacific service within the past decade. A city that had no transpacific service, Phoenix, will receive two new direct services to Asia courtesy of China Airlines and Starlux. 

Moreover, U.S.-based airlines have increased their presence in Taiwan. Last year, Delta Air Lines launched a nonstop flight from Seattle to Taipei. Notably, United Airlines added flights to Kaohsiung, a secondary city in Taiwan. It also resumed services between Guam and Taipei.