CAL launches interline booking with Southwest Airlines

Los Angeles, Aug. 18 (CNA) Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) announced the start of its partnership with U.S.-based Southwest Airlines with a new interline booking service at a joint press conference in Long Beach, California on Monday.

For itineraries starting Jan. 19, 2026, passengers can now book a single ticket from CAL, which will include the flight from Taiwan to one of CAL's U.S. gateways, and onward connecting Southwest flights to cities such as Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Atlanta and Chicago, according to CAL's website.

CAL currently offers non-stop trans-Pacific flights to North American cities including Phoenix, Los Angeles, Ontario, San Francisco and Seattle, where travelers will be able to make their connections.

CAL President Kevin Chen (陳漢銘) said that the objective is to expand the carrier's U.S. network and attract more tourists to Taiwan, whether for connections or sightseeing.

At the press conference, Steven Swan, Southwest's managing director in charge of networks and alliances, emphasized CAL as "Southwest's first partner in Asia."

He also said that the partnership opens doors to the recognition of mileage points between the two airlines.

Swan, who has more than 23 years of experience in the aviation industry, visited Taiwan in early March to initiate alliance discussions.

Taiwanese airline Starlux Airlines signed a similar agreement with American Airlines on Aug. 15.

Southwest Airlines is the fourth-largest airline operator in the United States, transporting the highest number of domestic passengers with over 4,000 flights daily.