In a year marked by fierce competition and shifting travel patterns, two major airlines—Taiwan’s EVA Air and Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines—are making bold moves to capture the hearts (and wallets) of international travelers. Each carrier is doubling down on premium experiences, network expansion, and loyalty perks, hoping to stand out in a crowded transpacific and transatlantic market as 2025 draws to a close.
EVA Air, one of Taiwan’s three flagship carriers alongside China Airlines and Starlux Airlines, has spent over three decades building a global reputation for reliability and comfort. Since its first flight on July 1, 1991, the privately owned airline has grown to serve more than 60 destinations across four continents—everywhere but Africa—with a fleet of roughly 88 aircraft. According to Simple Flying, EVA Air’s commitment to long-haul connectivity has been at the core of its steady ascent, especially in North America.
The airline’s American journey began in December 1992, when it launched a nonstop service between Taipei and Los Angeles with its then-new Boeing 747-400. Just a year later, EVA made headlines by adding a Taipei–Seattle–Newark route, becoming the first Asian carrier to serve Seattle and offering the only direct Seattle-Taiwan link at the time. Over the decades, EVA Air has cemented its status as a major player in the US market, now serving seven American cities: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and, as of October 3, 2025, Dallas/Fort Worth.
The Dallas/Fort Worth launch is more than just a new dot on the map. Initially operated with three weekly round trips, the route will increase to five weekly flights from November 18 and become a daily operation by December 15. This move builds on EVA’s long-standing cargo presence in the region, dating back to 1998, and responds to surging passenger demand driven by the area’s booming economy and growing business ties to Asia. With this addition, EVA Air becomes the only Asian carrier serving two destinations in Texas—a testament to its ambition and adaptability.
October 2025 figures from Cirium show EVA’s West Coast routes remain its busiest, with 93 monthly departures each to Los Angeles and San Francisco. These flights are buoyed by large Taiwanese communities and extensive onward connections through Taipei. Other North American gateways include 44 flights to Seattle, 31 each to Houston-Intercontinental, New York JFK, and Chicago O'Hare, and 13 to Dallas/Fort Worth. North of the border, EVA Air’s Canadian operations have also flourished since its 2010 debut, with daily flights to Toronto and Vancouver now delivering over 200,000 seats annually between Taiwan and Canada.
All told, by the end of 2025, EVA Air expects to run 94 weekly flights across North America, making it the leading Taiwanese airline in the region by both destinations and frequency. Notably, the airline’s performance is not just about quantity, but quality: US Department of Transportation data reveal that in the fourth quarter of 2024, EVA Air recorded the highest average load factor on US-Taiwan routes at 81.52%, well above the overall average of 78.52% and far outpacing Delta Air Lines’ 64.61%. This high load factor signals robust demand, especially on the West Coast, and underscores EVA’s knack for matching capacity with market needs.
But EVA Air is not alone in chasing premium travelers and loyalty. Delta Air Lines, a household name in American aviation, is taking the high-touch experience to new heights. By the end of 2025, every Delta hub—including Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)—will feature a dedicated Delta One check-in area for customers booking its long-haul, lie-flat Delta One cabin or select domestic first-class flights. According to The Points Guy, these semi-private zones at SLC and MSP will offer more exclusivity than the standard SkyPriority lanes, with walled-off spaces, snacks, coffee, and water to provide a calm oasis from the airport bustle.
While these new check-in areas won’t quite rival the ultra-luxe, almost clandestine Delta One experience at Los Angeles International Airport—which boasts a private security entrance—they’re still a step up for high-end flyers in Utah and Minnesota. Access is strictly for those with tickets marketed as "Delta One," reinforcing the airline’s emphasis on exclusivity and top-tier service. And while neither SLC nor MSP will get a full-fledged Delta One Lounge, Salt Lake City is set to unveil a massive new Sky Club by the end of October 2025, further enhancing the premium experience.
This premium push is more than just window dressing. Delta’s strategy to woo affluent travelers has paid off handsomely, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline has consistently led its US peers in profitability, thanks in large part to its lucrative partnership with American Express. Delta expects to rake in a record $8 billion from its Amex tie-up in 2025, after already earning $2 billion in just the third quarter of the year. As CEO Ed Bastian told analysts, "We’ve been acquiring a record number of premium cardholders. The mix of those [card] acquisitions is skewing higher and higher in terms of reaching a more premium audience. And those customers have better credit scores, so they get approved more often."
One in three active SkyMiles members now carries a Delta Amex card—a remarkable feat, given the airline counted 25 million "active" members in 2023 and that number has only grown. Delta’s highest-end consumer card, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, comes with a hefty $650 annual fee but offers perks like an annual companion ticket and 15 annual Sky Club visits, making it a prized asset for frequent flyers.
Yet, even with these premium moves, Delta has faced some turbulence. The airline noted a late-summer 2025 slowdown in travel demand to Europe, particularly in the main cabin. Executives believe economic jitters earlier in the year—when many travelers book summer trips—played a role. However, demand for premium seats, including Delta One and Premium Select, remained strong, suggesting that high-end travelers are less sensitive to economic swings. Encouragingly, Delta reports a "recent acceleration" in travel spending among both business and leisure travelers, and is planning more than a half-dozen new transatlantic flights for 2026.
Both EVA Air and Delta Air Lines are betting big on premium travelers and loyalty programs as the airline industry continues to evolve. EVA’s network expansion and high load factors reflect its ability to capture growing demand in North America, while Delta’s focus on exclusive experiences and credit card partnerships is reshaping what it means to be a loyal flyer in the US. As competition heats up and passenger expectations rise, these carriers are proving that innovation and a customer-first mindset are the keys to staying ahead in the global aviation game.
