New Summer Routes / Stunning Frontier Scenery – EVA Air Launches Flights from Hohhot and Hailar

▲ EVA Air aircraft. (Photo / From EVA Airways Corp. EVA Air Fan Page)

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

The “Northeast Asia” and “Mainland China” regions are highly significant for Taiwanese airlines and the travel market. This summer, in response to the travel boom, many domestic airlines have launched new routes. Among them, EVA Air has expanded its Japanese routes to include Okayama and Asahikawa, while on the mainland side, it has added routes to Hohhot, Hailar, and Xining, making north-south travel more convenient for passengers.

Okayama is located in the Chugoku region of Japan, just a 40-minute drive from Osaka. With an average of 270 rain-free days per year, it is known as the “Land of Sunshine.” EVA Air operates its Taipei (Taoyuan) to Okayama route using MD-90 aircraft, with flights departing every Wednesday and Saturday.

EVA Air stated that since Okayama is more of a seasonal destination, suitable for spring, summer, and autumn travel, while Asahikawa is ideal for winter trips, the airline will manage these as “seasonal scheduled flights.” From April to November each year, flights will operate between Taipei (Taoyuan) and Okayama, covering the peak seasons of cherry blossom viewing in spring, summer travel, and autumn foliage appreciation in Okayama. From December to March of the following year, flights will run between Taipei (Taoyuan) and Asahikawa, which is the best time for Taiwanese travelers to go skiing and enjoy hot springs there.

%An EVA Air aircraft at an airport (Photo / From EVA Airways Corp. EVA Air Fan Page)

EVA Air has been operating flights to Hokkaido for 18 years.The newly launched Taipei (Taoyuan)–Asahikawa route on May 2 operates three flights per week using A330-200 aircraft.Flights on the Taipei (Taoyuan)–Hakodate route have increased to four times per week, along with seven weekly flights on the Taipei (Taoyuan)–Sapporo route, resulting in two daily flights between Taipei and Hokkaido. EVA Air recommends that travelers consider planning their itinerary by entering via Hakodate and exiting via Asahikawa.

For the new flights to Japan, EVA Air’s Taipei (Taoyuan)–Hakodate route has increased to four flights per week starting May 1. Meanwhile, the Taipei–Osaka route is also scheduled to increase flights from July 1 this year, with daily flights to Osaka.。

Additionally, in the Mainland China region, EVA Air noted that the “frontier scenery” is a market worth exploring and believes it will be well-received by travelers. Therefore, it plans to add new routes to Hohhot, Hailar, and Xining in the near future.The inaugural flight from Taipei (Taoyuan) to Hohhot is on June 3,with flights operating every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.The Taipei (Taoyuan)–Hailar route will begin on June 4,with flights every Tuesday and Friday.The Taipei (Taoyuan)–Xining route is set to launch on August 1,with flights every Thursday and Sunday.

To celebrate the launch of the Hohhot, Hailar, and Xining routes, a variety of promotional tour packages are available during the first week. A 4-day, 3-night trip to the Hulunbuir Grassland and border city of Manzhouli, as well as a 5-day, 4-night journey to the Xilamuren Grassland, Mongolian yurts, and sandboarding at Xiangshawan, start from just NT$21,900. An 8-day, 7-night tour including the Mongolian Desert Xiangshawan, grasslands, and Genghis Khan Mausoleum starts from NT$33,900, while a 4-day, 3-night boat cruise on Qinghai Lake, visit to Xining Ta’er Monastery, and sightseeing in Qinghai are priced from NT$19,900.

Considering the demand for cross-strait flights from central and southern Taiwan,the regular charter flight between Taichung and Changsha will become a scheduled flight starting May 4.On the same day, a new charter service between Taichung and Guangzhou will also be launched. In southern Taiwan,a new route between Kaohsiung and Jinan will begin on May 1, and a charter service from Kaohsiung to Zhangjiajie will commence on June 3.。