10 years, 7,700 Miles and one unshakable bond

How a single flight reshaped the relationship between Houston and Asia.

Jun 26, 2025

It began with a leap of faith and a 7,700-mile nonstop journey across the Pacific. In June 2015, EVA Air launched its inaugural flight between Taipei and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston. Ten years later, what started as a bold investment in connectivity has become one of the most enduring and transformative links between Asia and the American South.

On June 26, Houston marked that milestone with a celebration as dynamic as the relationship itself. Set against the backdrop of the Houston Zoo, the event blended aviation, art and conservation into a single message: this isn’t just a route, it’s a relationship. A mural unveiling, a rare wildlife transfer and a reunion of global civic leaders captured the spirit of what EVA Air’s Houston route has grown to represent.

In the decade since its launch, the Houston–Taipei flight has evolved into EVA Air’s longest-serving North American route, offering travelers seamless access between two economic engines. It has moved far more than passengers; it has carried business opportunities, family reunions, scientific exchange and artistic collaboration. It helped Houston transcend its coastal rivals as a central gateway to Asia, elevating its global profile and expanding EVA’s own reach in the Western Hemisphere.

But this is more than a story of aviation metrics or passenger counts. It’s a story of city diplomacy and long-term commitment. The partnership has deepened a sister-city relationship between Houston and Taipei that dates back 64 years—Houston’s first official international alliance. That bond now manifests in co-created public art, cross-zoo conservation efforts and a deepening cultural understanding that transcends language and borders.

At the heart of the anniversary celebration is a mural—a riot of color painted by Houston street art icon GONZO247 and Taipei’s trendsetting artist BOUNCE. Its twin, to be installed this fall at the Taipei Zoo, visually captures the interconnectedness of the two cities: their urban energy, their natural ecosystems and their shared imagination. Nearby, conservationists mark the international relocation of Harris, a male bongo antelope from Houston to Taipei—a gesture made possible by EVA Air’s expertise in sensitive cargo transport and symbolic of a broader mission to preserve life across continents.

All of this is happening at a moment of reinvention for Houston’s airports. With the new world-class International Terminal on the cusp of full completion, Houston is investing heavily in infrastructure designed for a global audience. The terminal will serve as a gateway for international carriers like EVA Air, fitting, as the city prepares to take the global stage as a host of the 2026 World Cup.

Ten years ago, a single flight changed the way Houston connects to Asia. Today, the result is a decade of growth, diplomacy, and shared ambition, carried forward at 38,000 feet.