Last Updated on 2025 年 12 月 10 日 by 総合編集組
Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport: The Leading Transit Hub for Southeast Asia to North America Routes
In an era of global aviation supply chain constraints and delayed aircraft deliveries, Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) has solidified its position as a premier transit hub connecting Southeast Asia to North America. With a remarkable 60-minute minimum connection time (MCT) for key carriers and up to 70% transit passengers on certain routes, TPE offers efficient, reliable transfers that minimize total travel duration for international travelers.
Global Aviation Challenges Boosting Established Hubs
The aviation industry faces unprecedented supply-side issues, with over 17,000 aircraft on backlog—far exceeding pre-pandemic levels—due to engine shortages, semiconductor delays, and workforce gaps. Airlines are extending older fleets, raising costs and limiting new direct routes. In this environment, mature hubs like TPE gain advantage through existing networks and operational efficiency.
Asia-Pacific passenger traffic accounts for 34.7% of global volume, projected to grow at 4.2% annually through 2030. For Southeast Asian travelers heading to North America, transiting via TPE leverages geographic proximity along great circle routes, high-frequency flights by Taiwanese carriers, and streamlined processes.
Geographic Edge: Proximity to Optimal Great Circle Paths
Taiwan sits at the heart of the First Island Chain, ideally positioned near the shortest great circle routes between major Southeast Asian cities and the North American West Coast. For instance, EVA Air’s Taipei to Seattle flight covers just 6,074 miles—one of its shortest U.S. routes. Actual flight paths often skirt Taiwanese and Japanese airspace, saving fuel and time.
This natural advantage, combined with dense scheduling, ensures competitive total journey times, even compared to potential direct flights hindered by supply constraints.
Taiwanese Carriers’ Robust Trans-Pacific Deployment
Taiwan’s flagship airlines—EVA Air, China Airlines, and Starlux Airlines—drive TPE’s hub status through concentrated North American capacity.
EVA Air leads with ambitious fleet expansion: adding three Boeing 787s by 2026 (totaling 23) and 24 Airbus A350-1000s from 2027-2033. It plans daily Dallas/Fort Worth service, matching Houston, becoming the only Asian carrier serving both Texas hubs.
China Airlines launched nonstop Seattle flights in July 2024 with five weekly A350-900 services. Starlux competes on Los Angeles routes using A350-900s.
In San Francisco (SFO), EVA provides around 62,118 monthly round-trip seats, dominating despite competition. Seattle sees nearly 40,000 monthly outbound seats, led by EVA’s 777-300ER and 787-10 operations.
Key routes highlight market strength:
- TPE-SFO: EVA holds largest share.
- TPE-SEA: Daily EVA 787-10 services.
- TPE-DFW: Up to 70% transit passengers, underscoring TPE’s transfer appeal.
Geopolitical limits on fifth freedom rights force a “high-density narrow focus” strategy, prioritizing North America where institutional support is strongest.
U.S.-Taiwan Open Skies Agreement: Flexibility Advantage
The bilateral Open Skies Agreement allows Taiwanese carriers unrestricted capacity and frequency adjustments on U.S. routes based purely on commercial demand. This agility enables rapid increases in high-demand cities like San Francisco or Seattle, ensuring seamless connections for Southeast Asian feeders.
Infrastructure Developments and Challenges at TPE
TPE handles 80% of Taiwan’s international passengers and over 95% of air cargo, vital for high-tech exports. Government support includes NT$32.5 billion investment from 2022-2025.
Terminal 3 full operations delayed to at least 2028, but the north concourse began trials in December 2025, adding eight gates and 5.8 million annual capacity. The third runway is postponed to 2032. Interim measures include 16 night parking stands (nine operational, seven by early 2026).
Operational Efficiency: The 60-Minute MCT Edge
TPE’s standout feature is the 60-minute MCT for EVA/UNI Air international-to-international transfers—matching Vancouver (YVR) and outperforming Incheon (ICN, often 90+ minutes) and Narita (NRT, with potential terminal shuttles and extra security).
Skytrax 2024 rankings place TPE highly in immigration (5th) and security (9th) among 30-40 million passenger airports, supporting swift processes.
Passenger Experience: Strengths and Areas for Improvement
Travelers praise friendly staff and quick assistance, reflecting efficient soft services. However, hardware issues persist: insufficient seating in gates, outdated facilities, and occasional blocked areas forcing floor sitting.
Unlike Singapore Changi or Incheon with extensive layover amenities (gardens, pools, cinemas), TPE focuses on “fast transit” rather than prolonged stays, appealing to time-sensitive business travelers.
Strategic Recommendations for Sustained Competitiveness
To maintain leadership:
- Accelerate targeted upgrades in existing terminals: more ergonomic seats, better wayfinding, and charging points.
- Brand TPE as Asia’s fastest transit hub, leveraging 60-120 minute experiences and digital tools like biometrics.
- Integrate cargo strengths (95% of Taiwan’s air freight) to bolster financial resilience for passenger investments.
Despite delays and geopolitical constraints, TPE’s synergy of geography, carrier density, open skies flexibility, and efficiency positions it uniquely. With 70% transit ratios on key routes, it remains the preferred choice for Southeast Asia-North America journeys in a constrained global aviation landscape.
