Originally Posted by
username
However, now with the 777, it seems the focus would be nonstop service to the east coast. It does not make sense for NYC or YYZ flights to stop in YVR. BR's TPE-SEA-EWR had huge empty cabins between EWR and SEA. CI is only doing KIX-JFK because it is a void for Skyteam.
Right now, Mainland China PP holders are not allowed to transit in TPE. That will probably change over time. Their visa restrictions are a lot higher.
It makes no sense for YYZ flights to stop in YVR, but, unless CI uses their incoming A359s for the kind of routes that 788 operators are using those planes for, using YYZ as a scissor hub for lower-demand US flights makes perfect sense: BR was empty between SEA and EWR because of cabotage laws (same applied to CI for SEA/IAH and ANC/JFK). These same laws are a more likely reason than filling a void for SkyTeam for CI changing TPE-ANC-JFK to TPE-KIX-JFK, and this legal issue is avoided by using fifth freedom rights through another country (such as Japan or Canada).
As tris06 said, since transit passengers do not need to clear immigration/customs formalities, they are allowed to transit in TPE; they just can't leave the sterile area.