New Route — Calgary (YYC)–Taipei Nonstop

EVA Air and China Airlines both operating YYC–TPE nonstop service in 2026. China Airlines promotional economy fares from CAD 1,199 RT from Calgary. Eliminates 4–6 hour connection penalty vs. routing through Vancouver or Seattle.

October 2026 Pricing — US and EU Hubs

Pricing stable week-over-week. Ranges represent RT economy, off-peak October dates (Oct 12–23):

LAX: ~$675–$900  |  SFO: ~$776–$950  |  SEA: ~$680–$900
JFK: ~$972–$1,350  |  IAH: ~$1,029–$1,400  |  IAD: ~$1,246–$1,600
LHR: ~$722–$1,000  |  AMS: ~$630–$940  |  FRA: ~$858–$1,200
YYC: from CAD 1,199 (China Airlines promo)

AMS remains the lowest-cost EU hub (~£200/person savings vs. LHR due to UK Air Passenger Duty). EVA Air TPE–IAD (launching Jun 26) is expected to compress East Coast fares.

Schedule Updates

STARLUX LAX, ONT, SEA, PHX (4×/wk): operational
STARLUX TPE–Prague (PRG): Aug 1 at 3×/wk (Tue/Thu/Sat) → 4×/wk from Oct 1 (adds Monday); A350-900
STARLUX TPE–Bali (DPS): Oct 1, 5×/wk; A321neo
EVA Air TPE–IAD: Jun 26 launch, 4×/wk, 787-9, ~17hr
China Airlines FRA (daily) + AMS (4×/wk): transitioning A350-900 → 777-300ER Sep/Oct 2026
STARLUX JFK: not confirmed. STARLUX took delivery of its first A350-1000 (Jan 6, 2026; 18 on order). JFK booking page exists on STARLUX website but no schedule has been filed. Airline has stated "second half of 2026" ambition. An announcement would need to come by June to be operational in October. Do not book on assumption of October 2026 availability.

TPE Airport Infrastructure

T3 North Concourse (Gates D11–D18, 8 gates): operational since Dec 25, 2025; access through T2 Gate D10. Full T3 main building + South Concourse target: 2027. Overall T3 construction: 72.52% complete (Dec 2025). Taiwan airport authority announced a half-day transit incentive program (May 3 announcement; formal details pending).

T1: China Airlines, STARLUX, budget carriers
T2: EVA Air
T3 North Concourse: operational via T2 connection
MRT Airport Express: 35 min to Taipei Main Station, NTD 150

October 2026 — Event Calendar and Demand Spikes

Demand spike weekends — book accommodation 2–3 months minimum:
Oct 9–11: National Day long weekend (Double Tenth Oct 10 = Sat; in-lieu Oct 9 Fri)
Oct 24–26: Retrocession Day long weekend (Oct 25 = national holiday; Taipei Hakka Yimin Festival Oct 24–26, CKS Memorial Hall)
Oct 30–31 / Nov 1: Taiwan Pride (Oct 31; 25th edition; 100,000–200,000 attendees; Asia's largest)
Lowest prices and crowds: Oct 12–23 (excluding Oct 24–26)

Mid–late Oct: Taipei Jazz Festival; Taichung Jazz Music Festival (free, ~10 days, dates TBC)
Mid-Oct – mid-Nov: Taipingshan beech foliage, Yilan

Weather — September through November

October: high 27°C / low 22°C; fewest rainy days of any month — optimal travel window
September: 28–32°C; typhoon season active; avoid if flexibility exists
November: 20–25°C; NE monsoon increases precipitation on north and east coasts

Entry Requirements — Unchanged

TWAC mandatory pre-registration: within 72 hours before arrival; free; twac.immigration.gov.tw
US / EU / UK / AU / CA: 90-day visa-free; passport valid through departure (US/Japan) or 6 months
Thailand / Brunei / Philippines: 14-day visa-free trial extended through Jul 31, 2026
US State Dept: Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions (unchanged)