Delta Air Lines is launching its first nonstop route between the U.S. and Taiwan next summer, returning to the East Asia country after an absence of seven years.
Flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) are slated to commence from June 6, 2024, subject to government approval. Operations will be daily using Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.
The SkyTeam member previously served Taipei via Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT), latterly operating from Honolulu and Portland, Oregon. However, the carrier pulled Taiwan from its route map in May 2017 following a restructure of its operations in Japan’s capital.
The move to open a route from Seattle will therefore become its first nonstop connecting the U.S. and Taiwan. Joan Wang, managing director of global sales, for Seattle at Delta, says it “marks a significant stride in enhancing Seattle’s global connectivity.”
“This strategic addition to Delta’s trans-Pacific portfolio is poised to make a profound impact on the Seattle market, fostering increased business and leisure travel opportunities for our discerning customers,” she adds.
Delta has offered one-stop service between Seattle and Taipei in the past, providing year-round flights via NRT between October 2015 and October 2016. Its return to the market coincides with the airline’s 90th anniversary of serving Seattle, a history that dates back to the start of operations by Northwest Airways in 1933. Delta flights began in June 1980 with nonstop flights between SEA and Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Portland.
Taipei will become the carrier’s seventh international market in the Asia-Pacific region—alongside Auckland, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai Pudong, Sydney, Tahiti and Tokyo Haneda—and will make Delta the second U.S. carrier to offer nonstop U.S.-Taiwan flights alongside United Airlines.
In the Seattle-Taipei market, Star Alliance member EVA Airways currently serves the 6,061-mi. (5,267-nm) sector 10 times per week using Boeing 777-300ER and 787-10 aircraft.
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