Southwest Airlines and China Airlines are to create an interline partnership in early 2026, with published connections projected to go on sale later this year, Southwest announced Monday at the International Air Transport Association general meeting in New Delhi.
"This initial work to partner with Taiwan-based China Airlines would allow for seamless trans-Pacific journeys across the Southwest network," Southwest chief operating officer Andrew Watterson said in a statement.
"As we expand our gateway operations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, as well as Ontario, Calif., we are pleased to include Southwest as one of our partners with its unique network that further expands North American connection opportunities into the Midwest and toward the East Coast," China Airlines president Kevin Chen said in a statement.
Southwest at IATA also announced that beginning July 14, its partnership with Icelandair will add connecting service through Orlando, Pittsburgh and Raleigh-Durham.
The Dallas-based carrier in September 2024 announced its first international partnership with Icelandair, and in February began connecting flights through Baltimore, with Nashville and Denver connections added in May.