TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — EVA Air and Starlux Airlines reported their strongest-ever first-quarter financial results on Monday, following China Airlines’ record earnings announcement last week.

EVA Air posted a net profit of NT$5.93 billion (US$195.55 million), up 25.8% year-on-year, with earnings per share or EPS of NT$1.10, per UDN. Starlux reported a net profit of NT$915 million, a 47% increase from a year earlier, and an EPS of NT$0.30.

On Friday, China Airlines said its revenue, profit, and EPS all hit new first-quarter highs. Net profit rose 36% year-on-year, with EPS reaching NT$0.69.

EVA Air said the global passenger market maintained momentum from last year’s travel boom. The first quarter benefited from long holidays such as the Lunar New Year and the winter school break, spurring leisure and homebound travel demand.

Business travel demand also remained solid. However, long-haul passenger numbers dipped slightly, with a 1.2% year-on-year decline.

While overall passenger performance held steady, EVA’s cargo revenue surged to NT$12.72 billion. That marked a 25.9% increase, or NT$2.61 billion more than a year earlier.

The airline attributed the jump to strong demand for e-commerce from China, AI server and semiconductor shipments, and pre-shipping activity ahead of US tariffs. Cargo volume rose 7.9%, while yield per unit climbed 20.2%.

Starlux said both passenger and cargo operations performed well, boosting overall profitability. Strong outbound travel during the Lunar New Year and winter break lifted ticket prices and load factors.

First-quarter cargo revenue for Starlux reached NT$921 million, up 111% year-on-year. The company said it was a new quarterly high, driven by simultaneous growth in freight rates and volume.