EVA Air launches long-awaited flights from DFW to Taiwan

America’s second-busiest airport has its latest nonstop hyperlink to Asia — and it is on a brand-new airplane with some spiffy, state-of-the-art seats.

In a flight that drew loads of fanfare, Taiwan-based EVA Air made its long-awaited arrival Friday evening at Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW), inaugurating nonstop service between Texas and Taipei.

It is the seventh U.S. metropolis for the Star Alliance provider, a companion of United Airways and a mainstay within the skies over the Pacific.

The brand new route from DFW additionally bolsters the North Texas airport’s fast-growing reputation as a hub for vacationers seeking to fly to far-flung locations in Australia, Asia and the South Pacific.

“This new route is about extra flights, making connection,” EVA President Clay Solar stated, talking at DFW Friday evening simply earlier than the provider’s first flight from the airport. “I feel EVA helps to [strengthen] the connection between, not solely Taiwan, however Asia and [the] USA, particularly Texas.”

No, we’re not speaking about its in style Hello Kitty-themed jet, which already began turning heads final summer season in Chicago.

Slightly, this flight from DFW to TPE marks the U.S. debut of EVA’s all-new premium economic system seats, which simply launched for the primary time on its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

And it is an alluring choice for vacationers who do not wish to foot the invoice (or the factors) vital to attain a lie-flat Royal Laurel business-class seat — however need some further consolation on the lengthy flight to Asia.

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EVA was as soon as forward of the occasions when it launched premium economic system within the latter years of the 20^th century, many years earlier than the spacious mid-cabin recliner seats began exhibiting up en masse on world airways over the previous 10 years.

However earlier this yr, as carriers continued to see booming popularity in premium economy seats, EVA announced it would make its next move.

These new seats, showing for the primary time on its Dreamliner fleet, are actually a worthy bridge between the spiffy pods up entrance and the usual coach seats within the again.

Organized in a 2-3-2 configuration, these seats ought to be greater than ample for vacationers seeking to get some relaxation on the transpacific trek.

The seats recline in a cradle movement, the place the seat cushion slides ahead and upward. Then, you may pop up the leg and footrest. Whereas it is not a lie-flat expertise, I personally suppose I would have the ability to get some first rate shuteye in that reclined place — it actually beats making an attempt to sleep upright in a coach seat!

Plus, like lots of the high premium economic system cabins flying in the present day, you may get (a little bit) further privateness with wings across the headrest. And, there’s new tech, too, with 15.6-inch seatback screens at each seat.

EVA sports activities 28 of those recliners instead for vacationers who do not wish to shell out for its 26 Royal Laurel enterprise pods up entrance.

The Royal Laurel cabin on this 787-9 you may see at DFW is actually unchanged from the business-class product the provider has flown on its 787s in recent times.

Be careful, although, for some future innovation from EVA in its entrance cabin, too. Executives final yr advised me they have been within the early phases of mulling a suite concept that might function sliding privateness doorways, which you’d doubtless see on a few of its largest, most premium planes sooner or later.

Meals, music, decor and video games greeted passengers forward of the late-night departure from the airport’s Terminal D — that’s, these passengers that did not move the time within the close by American Express Centurion Lounge or Capital One Lounge, every steps from the gate.

Learn extra: The best lounges at DFW

The one interruption to the festivities: blaring bulletins from a close-by gate a couple of flight boarding to Sydney, Australia.

It was a poignant reminder of the more and more strong attain DFW has over the Pacific, with airways set to supply 28% extra seats from the hub in 2025 than the yr earlier than, in accordance with knowledge from aviation analytics agency Cirium.

That features nonstop Cathay Pacific service to Hong Kong that launched earlier this yr and Fiji Airways flights to Nadi Worldwide Airport (NAN) that started in late 2024.

The importance of including EVA and Taipei as a brand new pin in DFW’s route map wasn’t misplaced on airport leaders — who likened the importance of this flight to the largest upcoming world occasion deliberate for North Texas.

“I’m simply excited for this route as I’m for the World Cup,” proclaimed Ken Buchanan, DFW government vp, referencing the world’s most-watched sporting occasion that may embody matches in Dallas throughout the 2026 model.

• You may switch Citi ThankYou Rewards factors to EVA Infinity MileageLands at a 1:1 ratio.
• Capital One miles additionally switch on to EVA however at a decreased 4:3 ratio, so 1,000 miles would turn into 750 EVA miles.
• You can even seek for award area by considered one of EVA’s companions within the Star Alliance, like United Airlines, Air Canada, Singapore Airways or Japan’s All Nippon Airways, amongst others.

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