China Airlines' nonstop service to Taipei took off in the early morning hours today, making it the fifth new international service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to launch in 2024. With the busy summer travel season underway, passengers now have even more options to consider when flying out of SEA. China Airlines President Kao Shing-Hwang and Vice President of PR Lu Shwu-Huoy arrived on the first flight to celebrate the Taiwan-based airline’s new service on their fleet of A350-900s. Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho, Washington state House Representative Mia Gregerson, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Director General Daniel Kuo-ching Chen, and SEA Chief Operating Officer Arif Ghouse were also in attendance.
"We’re thrilled to welcome China Airlines’ new service to Taipei and expand our partnership with the airline, connecting families and businesses to our region,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho. “There is a lot of potential for fostering mutually beneficial opportunities in tourism and business across our two regions. This partnership helps enhance our presence in Taipei and beyond."
As the airline’s sixth North American destination, SEA was excited to send the inaugural flight off in style, celebrating with local lion dance group Mak Fai, and a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and gift exchange. China Airlines has been a long-time cargo service partner at SEA, so passengers may recognize their plum blossom logo in the sky. Now passengers can take a commercial flight to Taiwan on the SkyTeam Alliance airline.
More reasons to visit Taipei
There are plenty of reasons to roam around and get lost in the streets of Taipei, including the vast number of eateries to keep your energy up as you explore. A cosmopolitan city full of people, markets, architecture, and more, Taipei also offers places that invite visitors into moments of tranquility. Travelers can seek out sunsets from Elephant Mountain and hot springs in the mountains around the Taipei Basin.
Flight Details
| Route | Days | Depart | Arrivals | Flight No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA to TPE | Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun | 1:40 a.m. | 5:05 a.m. (+1 day) | CI021 |
| TPE to SEA | Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun | 11:30 p.m. | 7:50 p.m. | CI022 |
International Service at SEA
Today’s flight is the fifth new international service to begin in 2024. Earlier this year, SEA welcomed Delta Air Lines’ service to Taipei; Lufthansa’s service to Munich, Germany; Hainan Airlines’ service to Chongqing, China, and Taipei and Alaska Airlines’ service to Toronto, Canada. SEA now offers 52 services to 33 international destinations on 25 different airlines. There are currently three more new services scheduled to begin this year: STARLUX Airlines to Taipei in August, Philippine Airlines to Manila in October, and recently announced Alaska Airlines to Liberia, Costa Rica, in December. Visit SEA’s International Travel page for tips and information on navigating SEA and the International Arrivals Facility.
Photo above: From left to right: SEA Chief Operating Officer Arif Ghouse, Washington House Representative Mia Gregerson, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Director General Daniel Kuo-ching Chen, China Airlines President Kao Shing-Hwang, and Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho.
About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) serves the people of the Pacific Northwest with essential services, access to hundreds of domestic and global destinations, and economic activity that supports tens of thousands of jobs and produces $22 billion in economic activity. SEA has earned the highest U.S. ranking in Skytrax’s World’s Top 100 Airports for the third year in a row, two consecutive years as Best Airport in North America (2022/2023), and a 4-Star Skytrax Rating, focused on customer-centered travel with better services, facilities, and amenities. SEA totaled over 50.8 million passengers in 2023 – down just 1.8% from 2019 – with a forecast to exceed pre-pandemic traveler volumes in 2024. Thirty-five airlines served 93 nonstop domestic and 30 international destinations including Canada, Mexico, and seasonal operations.
Contact
Perry Cooper | SEA Airport
(206) 787-4923 | [email protected]
