[dluan]

China Airlines recently opened a new direct flight route between Taoyuan and Phoenix. They've been plastering it all over their plane signage. I thought it was funny that the flight must be pretty empty other than the handful of TSMC employees that need to go there.

[khuey]

Apparently China Airlines and Starlux are both going to fly that route next year. I have a hard time imagining there's demand for one let alone both.

[sam_goody]

Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States. It is also one of the major hubs of the west, being in a good location (midway north), having good weather for planes, and having America West headquartered there.

I would think there should be plenty of traffic going through there to Taiwan, similar to the amount going through a hub such as Chicago or NY.

[dangus]

From Wikipedia:

PHX was the 11th-busiest airport in the United States in terms of passenger boardings and 35rd-busiest in the world in 2024. The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

[dluan]

Earlier this year Eva Air also announced a direct route to Dallas, supposedly starting next month. At the time I felt like it was a tariff negotiation tactic because that one also does not make sense.

[iszomer]

FYI to all: China Airlines is a Taiwanese company (ROC) and has no affiliation with mainland China (PRC).