Taipei: EVA Airways, one of Taiwan’s prominent international carriers, experienced a 10 percent year-on-year decline in revenue for September. In contrast, Starlux Airlines, the newest Taiwanese international carrier, and Tigerair Taiwan, the country’s sole low-cost airline, reported an increase in revenue during the same month.

According to Focus Taiwan, EVA Air’s consolidated sales for September amounted to NT$15.62 billion (US$512 million), marking a 10 percent decrease from the previous year. The airline attributed this decline to Ghost Month in Taiwan, which traditionally sees a drop in consumer willingness to travel abroad due to superstitions about bad luck, compounded by the end of the summer vacation season.

EVA Air reported that its passenger flight sales reached NT$9.32 billion, while cargo services generated NT$4.33 billion. The airline noted that its flights to U.S. destinations were impacted by U.S. tariff policies in September, although its European and Australian routes maintained stability with an average load factor exceeding 85 percent. Despite a slowdown in demand for flights to most regional destinations, EVA Air saw increased demand for flights to Chinese destinations, which bolstered its regional operations. Over the first nine months of the year, EVA Air’s consolidated sales declined by 1.07 percent year-on-year to NT$162.69 billion.

Looking ahead, EVA Air remains optimistic about October, anticipating that the month’s three national holidays will boost travel demand. The airline also plans to launch flights to Busan, South Korea, in late October, expecting this new route to enhance sales for the month and the fourth quarter. The airline noted that the fourth quarter typically signifies peak season for cargo services, suggesting potential sales growth.

Starlux Airlines reported NT$2.95 billion in consolidated sales for September, a 5 percent increase from the previous year, driven by a 26 percent rise in cargo service revenue to NT$444 million. The airline announced plans to introduce a new winter flight schedule at the end of October, with increased regional flights, resumption of flights to Manila on December 16, and the launch of flights to Phoenix, Arizona, on January 15, 2026, all expected to further boost sales. For the January-September period, Starlux Airlines posted NT$32.70 billion in consolidated sales, a 26 percent increase from the previous year.

Tigerair Taiwan’s consolidated sales for September stood at NT$1.28 billion, reflecting a 1 percent year-on-year increase. The airline experienced a 7.8 percent year-on-year rise in the number of flights, achieving an average load factor of 85 percent, which helped mitigate the effects of the slow season. For the first nine months of the year, Tigerair Taiwan’s consolidated sales amounted to NT$12.59 billion, largely unchanged from the previous year, maintaining an average load factor of about 87 percent.