Taipei: China Airlines (CAL) and EVA Airways (EVA Air) announced record-breaking sales for April, fueled by a surge in tourism as the world continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Focus Taiwan, CAL reported consolidated sales of NT$17.90 billion (US$588 million), marking an 8.02 percent increase compared to the previous year. This growth was largely attributed to a rise in outbound travelers from Taiwan, with passenger flight revenue increasing by 0.71 percent to reach NT$10.63 billion. The airline highlighted that flights to Penang, Amsterdam, and Chengdu had load factors exceeding 90 percent, representing the highest among its destinations.

In the cargo segment, CAL experienced a significant 22.52 percent rise in sales from the previous year, totaling NT$5.76 billion in April. The airline adjusted its cargo flight schedules to accommodate urgent orders from buyers responding to the 90-day pause in U.S. reciprocal tariffs.

EVA Air also saw impressive results, reporting NT$18.48 billion in consolidated sales for April, reflecting a 3.41 percent increase year-on-year. Revenue from passenger flights reached NT$11.84 billion, while cargo services generated NT$4.44 billion. EVA Air noted that the load factor for its long-haul and regional flights, including those to Da Nang, Bali, and Hanoi, also exceeded 90 percent. The airline adapted its cargo schedules to meet demand amid the Trump administration's tariffs, ensuring continued momentum in its cargo services.

Starlux Airlines, Taiwan's latest international carrier, recorded a substantial 35 percent year-on-year increase in consolidated sales, amounting to NT$3.597 billion in April. Passenger flight revenue rose by 25 percent to NT$2.90 billion. The airline also reported an 85 percent year-on-year increase in cargo sales, driven by semiconductor and fresh fruit shipments, reaching NT$378 million. For the first four months of the year, Starlux Airlines achieved NT$14.79 billion in consolidated sales, marking a 39 percent rise from the previous year.

Meanwhile, Tigerair Taiwan, the nation's sole budget airline, experienced a slight decline of 1.6 percent in consolidated sales for April, totaling NT$1.31 billion. However, for the first four months, the carrier's sales rose 6.5 percent year-on-year to NT$5.94 billion, with an average load factor of approximately 87 percent, indicating stable demand.