Southwest Airlines announced on Aug. 27 that it is hoping to make it easier for passengers looking to travel to Taiwan by partnering with EVA Air to offer connecting flights through San Francisco International Airport and other major international hubs.

Close coordination between Southwest and EVA Air will mean passengers will be able to more easily book their flights, have their luggage connected across each airline, and the same boarding pass as they travel between Taiwan and the United States. Southwest is integrating its network with EVA at airports in Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA) so passengers can more easily transfer from one airline to another.

At SFO, Southwest operates 12 nonstop flights to cities as far as Washington, D.C. and as close as the Los Angeles metropolitan region. While the airline has a large hub at Oakland International Airport, the presence of EVA Air at SFO will allow both airlines to facilitate seamless travel for passengers connecting on their flights.

“Our relationship with EVA Air brings new opportunities for access between Asia and the United States through our unmatched domestic network,” said Southwest Airlines Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Watterson in the EVA Airlines news release. “We’re grateful for this new partnership and the additional dimension it brings to our ongoing work to bring more choice in travel experiences with global reach.”

“This partnership positions EVA Air for long-term growth in an evolving market by combining resources with Southwest Airlines,” said EVA Air America Head Office Executive Vice President Andrew Su. “Together, we’re streamlining operations, connecting with a broader range of travelers, and responding more swiftly to changing market needs. Beyond simply adding flight options, we are dedicated to reimagining how we serve our passengers and providing travel experiences that are more personalized, more flexible, and thoughtfully designed around their needs.”

EVA Air, owned by Evergreen Group, is one of Taiwan’s largest airlines that connects passengers across the Asia Pacific region through its Taoyuan base. EVA Air has at least three flights a day from SFO to Taipei and competes with fellow Taiwanese airlines Starlux and China Airlines, as well as United Airlines on this very popular route.

Passengers will be able to book on EVA Air’s website and other travel agencies for their international flights to Asia.

This article was written by Andres Jimenez Larios for Bay City News.