China Airlines plans US expansion with new long-haul jets

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China Airlines plans US expansion with new long-haul jets

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Chen Han-Ming President of China Airlines | China Airlines

By Sky Industry News

Jul 15, 2025

Taiwan's China Airlines is planning a significant expansion in the United States as it prepares to receive new long-haul aircraft in the coming years. The SkyTeam Alliance carrier is considering adding Boston Logan International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and Dulles International Airport to its route map. This was announced by Chen Han-Ming, president of China Airlines, at an event held at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Before introducing new markets, China Airlines plans to increase flights to some of its major North American gateways, including JFK, Los Angeles International Airport, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. "As we continue to receive new aircraft, we will keep evaluating opportunities to add new routes or increase flight frequencies based on market demand," Chen stated.

At the start of June, China Airlines had 55 passenger planes on firm order. These include 10 Airbus A350-1000s, 10 Boeing 777-9s, and 24 Boeing 787s. At least 16 of these will replace older Airbus A330-300s.

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Chen also announced that China Airlines would move to the new Terminal 1 at JFK when it opens in June 2026. Currently, the airline operates out of Terminal 4 at the airport.

The expansion comes amid growth from competitors EVA Air and Starlux into the U.S. EVA Air will land at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in October as its seventh U.S. destination while Starlux begins operations at Ontario International Airport in California this June and in Phoenix in early 2026.

According to Cirium's schedule data, seats available for travel to the U.S. on China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux are expected to rise by nearly 12% this year compared with last year.

China Airlines' latest addition to its U.S. destinations was Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2024. The airline also serves Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport and San Francisco International Airport and previously operated flights to Honolulu International Airport before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In June, China Airlines announced a new interline partnership with Southwest Airlines set to begin in 2026 allowing passengers from both airlines to connect between flights at shared gateways without initial loyalty benefits. Additionally, China Airlines partners with Delta Air Lines enabling SkyMiles members earn and redeem points on their flights.