For the first time, direct flights between Taipei and the U.S. capital have been launched, potentially cutting travel time by about 7 to 8 hours. On June 26th, China Airlines officially inaugurated the Taoyuan to Washington, D.C. route, rewriting Taiwan’s history of not having direct flights to the U.S. capital and becoming the first airline in Taiwan to offer direct flights between the two destinations.
The new route is expected to bring approximately $50 million in economic benefits to the Washington, D.C. area each year, with a focus on transit opportunities to the Middle East and South America. The visit of a bipartisan group of Taiwanese lawmakers led by Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu taking the inaugural flight back to Taiwan marked a historic moment.
The opening of this strategically significant air route has been highly valued by officials from Taiwan and the United States as well as the aviation industry. At the inaugural ceremony held at Taoyuan International Airport, key figures such as China Airlines Chairman Lin Po-shui, Civil Aeronautics Administration Director-General Ho Shu-ping, Taoyuan Airport Company Chairman Yang Wei-fu, AIT Director Brent Christensen, representatives from the Washington Airport Authority and Tourism Bureau, all attended to witness this historic moment.
Later that evening, a gala dinner was held at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C., further heightening the warm interaction between Taiwan and the United States. The gala, hosted by China Airlines General Manager Sun Chia-ming, was attended by Ingrid Larson, Executive Director of AIT Washington, Taiwan’s representative to the United States Yu Da-mou, officials from the U.S. Department of State, Washington Airport Authority, Washington D.C. Tourism Bureau, aviation industry representatives, and Taiwanese business delegates, showcasing the extraordinary diplomatic and economic significance of this “Capital Direct Flight.”
Ho Shu-ping, Director-General of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, mentioned that aside from promoting economic and cultural exchanges, the new route will further enhance Taiwan’s position as an international aviation hub.
Lin Po-shui, Chairman of China Airlines, introduced that Washington is the airline’s 10th passenger route in North America. Following the launch, weekly flights to North America will increase to 98 flights. Through the Star Alliance network and codeshare partners, the route will extend to over 200 cities in the Americas; meanwhile, North American passengers will also be able to transfer through Taipei to major cities in Asia, further strengthening the competitiveness of the Asia-North America market.
AIT Director Brent Christensen emphasized the increasingly frequent civilian exchanges between Taiwan and the United States. With the addition of Washington Dulles Airport, direct flights between Taiwan and the U.S. now cover 11 major U.S. gateway cities, with China Airlines operating nearly half of the flights. According to statistics from the first quarter of 2026, Taiwan has risen to become the 16th largest source of tourists to the United States, and the new route will further stimulate demand for bilateral business, tourism, and visiting friends and relatives.
Chryssa Westerlund, Deputy Director-General and Chief Revenue Officer of the Washington Airport Authority, welcomed the development, emphasizing that this route’s direct connection between Washington and Taipei will bring unprecedented opportunities for cultural, business, and tourism exchanges between the East Coast and Taiwan.
Upon the arrival of the inaugural flight from Taoyuan at Washington Dulles International Airport, a grand “water arch ceremony” was specially arranged to honor the occasion. It is worth noting that Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers on a visit to the United States, also took this return inaugural flight from Washington to Taoyuan and attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony held by the American side.
China Airlines stated that Washington holds a central position in politics, economics, technology, and culture; General Manager Sun Chia-ming sees great business potential in Washington as the headquarters of multinational corporations and international organizations. The route is operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring Royal Laurel Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class, with 4 flights operated weekly.
With the opening of the Washington route, China Airlines’ presence in North America now spans major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, New York, Washington, Vancouver, and Toronto, with a network of 98 flights per week. This not only benefits travelers between the two destinations but also enhances the substantial connection between Taiwan and the United States.