China Airlines Partners with Southwest Airlines to Expand Connections in North America

China Airlines partners with Southwest Airlines to expand connections across North America.

China Airlines President Han-Ming Chen (right) and Southwest Airlines Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson (left) hold a signed partnership declaration, marking the official launch of the collaboration between the two airlines.

China Airlines President Han-Ming Chen (right) and Southwest Airlines Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson (left) hold the Southwest Airlines heart emblem, symbolizing the newly announced partnership between the two carriers.

China Airlines partners with Southwest to expand U.S. connections, offering seamless transfers via four West Coast gateways to 30+ U.S. cities.

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, June 2, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- China Airlines (CAL), a Taiwan-based carrier, announced on June 2nd that it is partnering with Southwest Airlines® in the U.S. to

set up a transfer network for trans-Pacific routes. Improved accessibility means in the coming future travelers will be able to fly non-stop from Taiwan to the United States (West Coast) and then transfer initially to more than 30 inland cities. China Airlines and Southwest Airlines flights at four major gateways, namely Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA), will offer seamless transfers to Southwest Airlines’ extensive network spanning the entire United States.

Southwest Airlines currently operates the fourth largest fleet in the world and is also the largest airline within the U.S. by passenger volume. The high frequency of flights and extensive destination network make it a key partner for developing the U.S. inland market, and China Airlines is Southwest Airlines’ first partner in Asia. The new cooperation will connect China Airlines’ trans-Pacific long-haul capacity with Southwest Airlines’ nationwide domestic network, providing global travelers with a quick and convenient way to reach any part of the U,S. by transiting through Taiwan and the West Coast.
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US Transfer Network Offers Connecting Flights to Major United States Cities through the Four West Coast Gateways

China Airlines is committed to improving the efficiency and quality of transfer services for travelers by providing more flight options. The partnership with Southwest Airlines allows travelers to use the carriers’ four main gateways to continue on to other major U.S. cities including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, and Chicago. Popular vacation destinations such as Florida is also covered. In the future, travelers will be able to book interline tickets for China Airlines/Southwest Airlines flights and domestic legs within the US operated by Southwest Airlines through the China Airlines website or major travel agencies. By purchasing the China Airlines/Southwest Airlines flights under one itinerary travelers can enjoy services including through check-in, and baggage checked-through to their final destination.

The China Airlines network in North America currently encompasses Los Angeles, Ontario, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, and Vancouver. The latest interline agreement with Southwest Airline will expand connecting services to the Midwest and East Coast, resulting in a more comprehensive North American network that caters to different traveler itineraries.

China Airlines aims to expand the connectivity of its global routes and is continuing to engage in multilateral collaborations with regional airline partners. The cross-network interline model will be expanded in the future to usher in a new era of mutually beneficial cooperation by offering more flexible and competitive flying options.