TAIPEI- EVA Air (BR) plans to launch direct flights between Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL), from early December, subject to regulatory approval.
The airline said on Sunday that it has already filed an application to begin the new service.
The proposed Taipei (TPE) to Delhi (DEL) route is expected to improve transit connectivity between South Asia and North America.
According to Focus Taiwan, EVA Air aims to capitalize on growing demand from Indian travelers, particularly software engineers working in Silicon Valley, by offering convenient one-stop connections through Taiwan.
EVA Air Eyes Delhi as Its Next Strategic Destination
Speaking with reporters, EVA Air President Sun Chia-ming announced the airline’s expansion plans while in Washington, D.C., following the launch of the carrier’s new nonstop service to the US capital on Friday.
The airline expects the Delhi route to begin in early December if regulatory approvals are granted.
Sun said Delhi’s strategic location makes it an ideal gateway for passengers traveling between South Asia and North America. The airline also plans to target Indian software engineers employed in Silicon Valley.
EVA Air currently schedules early morning departures from Taipei to several major North American cities. This allows passengers arriving from Delhi to make seamless onward connections with shorter transit times.
The airline currently serves 10 nonstop destinations across North America:
- Houston
- Dallas
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Seattle
- San Francisco
- Vancouver
- Toronto
- Washington, D.C.
Since launching nonstop flights to Los Angeles in 1992, EVA Air has steadily expanded its North American network.
The airline now operates 98 weekly round-trip flights across the region, exceeding the combined weekly services operated by Taiwan’s China Airlines (CI) and Starlux Airlines (JX).
Sun said the Delhi service will strengthen EVA Air’s ability to compete with Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) and Singapore Airlines (SQ) in the growing North America to South Asia transit market.
Transit Strategy Drives Future Growth
North America contributes approximately 40 percent of the airline’s passenger revenue and around 70 percent of its cargo revenue.
With Taiwan’s population of about 23 million, EVA Air sees international transit traffic as a key driver of long-term growth. Expanding connections through Taipei allows the airline to serve passengers traveling between multiple global regions instead of relying only on local demand.
Data from Taoyuan International Airport Corporation highlights this trend. The airport handled 5.32 million transit passengers in 2019, representing 10.7 percent of total passenger traffic. Transit passenger numbers increased to 6.69 million in 2025.
During the first five months of this year, the airport handled 3.29 million transit passengers, up 51 percent compared with the same period in 2019. Transit travelers accounted for 15.2 percent of total passenger traffic during the period.
Fleet Expansion
EVA Air also expects continued growth in its cargo business as global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure expands. The airline said AI-related shipments currently generate between 40 and 50 percent of its cargo revenue.
To support future demand, EVA Air plans to increase its dedicated cargo fleet from nine aircraft to 12 by 2028, expanding its overall cargo capacity.
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