Following the launch of its newest route to Dallas/Fort Worth on Oct. 3, EVA Air is gearing up for more growth in the U.S. The Taiwanese airline currently offers passenger service to seven U.S. cities.

In addition to its recently launched Dallas/Fort Worth service, EVA flies to Houston, San Francisco, Chicago O’Hare, New York-JFK, Los Angeles, and Seattle. But more markets could be on the way.

Andrew Su, EVA’s North America Head Office executive vice president, told AirlineGeeks on the sidelines of the carrier’s Dallas/Fort Worth inaugural flight festivities that more options are on the table, especially as competition between Taiwan and the U.S. heats up.

“We already have very extensive service from the West Coast,” Su said. “We have 33 [flights] from Los Angeles and San Francisco, and 10 weekly from Seattle. And the rest of the gateways, we have daily service.”

In recent months, Phoenix has turned into a hotbed for U.S.-Taiwan service, with EVA rivals China Airlines and Starlux announcing new service. EVA has yet to announce service to the Arizona capital.

“I have to admit the competition is there, especially since we have three major carriers in Taiwan,” Su added in response to a question about growth in Phoenix. “But we have already run the business in North America for more than 30 years, so we are the leader.”

Unlike its competitors, EVA’s U.S. growth ambitions may be farther east, Su hinted.

“Now we are looking forward to a little bit to the East Coast,” he said.

Su’s comments come less than a month after Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport Corporation and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority – which operates Washington Dulles – inked a new partnership to promote nonstop service between Taiwan and Washington, D.C. Currently, there are no regular flights between the two cities.

Why Dallas/Fort Worth?

Most of EVA’s passenger destinations in the United States are Star Alliance hubs. Dallas/Fort Worth bucks this trend, being a oneworld stronghold.

Su said the airline has been looking to add passenger flights to Dallas/Fort Worth “for a long time,” noting the region’s continued population growth.

“And you’ve got a lot of leading industry here in Dallas,” he added. “So I think it’s the right time for us to come to this market.”

EVA has operated cargo flights to Dallas/Fort Worth for several years. It is also the airline’s second destination in Texas after Houston.

Expansion is already planned on the Taipei-to-Dallas/Fort Worth route, too. After launching earlier this month with three times weekly service, the route will increase to five times weekly on Nov. 18.

Starting on Dec. 15, the new route will become a daily service.

Credits: EVA Airways

Follow AircrewNews.com on Facebook and X.

The post EVA Air Plans to Expand Operations in the United States first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

Airport delays, visa slowdowns and the closure of major attractions across the US are among the risks. Here is what travelers heading to the US need to know.

Are flights from the UAE to the US affected?

Flights with Emirates from Dubai to destinations in the US continue to operate normally. From Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways’ services to US airports are not affected by the shutdown.

Travelers using Etihad’s US preclearance facility at Zayed International Airport can also continue to do so. That’s because the facility is staffed by US Customs and Border Protection officers, who are considered essential workers. This means passengers travelling to the country on Etihad flights can still clear US immigration before boarding flights in Abu Dhabi.

Will there be delays at US airports?

Airports in the US will remain open to international travelers during the shutdown, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration staff are considered essential, so they will continue to work, but without pay until the shutdown ends.

In a public statement, Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the US Travel Association, warned that “a shutdown exacerbates staffing shortages among Transportation Security Administration officers and air traffic controllers, threatening longer airport security lines, flight delays and cancellations”.

During the last government shutdown in the US, hundreds of flights were delayed or grounded as staff shortages led to closed checkpoints. If the same situation unfolds, travellers may encounter longer queues, delays or missed flight connections.

Will UAE travellers face visa delays?

Visa appointments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are currently going ahead as scheduled, with VFS Global, which handles passport returns for visa applications, also operating as normal.

This aligns with the US State Department’s latest guidance, which affirms that consular operations domestically and abroad will remain operational and that only certain domestic support for consular operations will be suspended.

For UAE travelers, this means applications can still be submitted and US visa appointments booked. If the shutdown drags on, some categories of visas might face delays, however, this would likely only impact visas that require input from other US departments, such as H-1B and H-2B employment visas.

“Consular operations domestically and abroad, including passport and visa services and assistance for American citizens abroad, will continue during a lapse in government funding,” a US State Department representative tells The National. Adding: “Certain domestic support for consular operations will be suspended.”

How will US holidays be affected by the shutdown?

The most visible impact of the shutdown will be on the ground in America. Travelers planning to visit some of the country’s national parks such as Yosemite, Zion and the Grand Canyon should be prepared for limited services. While many parks will remain open, visitor centres, restrooms and rubbish collection are likely to be suspended. On the first day of the shutdown, many rangers and park staff were already furloughed.

Access to accurate information may also be limited, as government websites that normally update park and site closures will not be maintained.

Museums and cultural institutions are also affected. The Smithsonian’s museums, heritage centres and its National Zoo in Washington will stay open until at least October 6, but are expected to close after that date if the situation continues.

Other tourist attractions across the country have already closed, including the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and the United States Botanic Garden in Washington.

Visitors planning sightseeing trips in the US should try to verify opening information before travelling and prepare alternative itineraries in case attractions are closed.

Is the US Embassy in the UAE open?

Both the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai remain open. In a post on X, the US Mission to the UAE confirmed that “scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at US Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations.”

What has changed is how information is shared. Embassies will no longer update social media or routine communications regularly, which could make it harder for travelers to access timely updates about appointments or processing times.

Credits: The National

Follow AircrewNews.com on Facebook and X.

The post What UAE travelers need to know about the US government shutdown first appeared on AircrewNews.com.