Taiwan’s Starlux Announces Nonstop Flights Between Taipei and Phoenix

Phoenix is set to get its first nonstop flight to Asia when Taiwanese newcomer Starlux begins nonstop flights between Arizona’s capital city and Taipei in early 2026.

Let’s dive into everything we know so far about this surprising — but very exciting — development.

Starlux Will Fly Nonstop From Taipei to Phoenix

Starlux is a relatively new player in the commercial aviation scene, but it’s made a splash with brand-new aircraft, luxurious interiors, and great service and food.

It’s Taiwan’s third global carrier, the others being EVA Air and China Airlines. Starlux currently serves 4 U.S. cities: Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA). Phoenix (PHX) will be its fifth U.S. destination and the airline’s longest flight at a whopping 7,100+ miles, as noted by Ishrion Aviation.

The new flight is expected to launch in early 2026 with 3 or 4 weekly frequencies, though no firm dates have been announced, nor are tickets on sale.

Flights will be operated by the airline’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft that feature 4 seats in first class, 26 in business, 36 in premium economy, and 240 seats in economy.

While this news may seem like a complete shock on the surface, other factors could help explain why the airline has decided to serve the nation’s fifth-largest city.

One is that the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company recently invested upwards of $160 million in its Phoenix manufacturing facility — and there’s no sign that will slow down any time soon, as there’s been a concerted effort to “re-shore” some electronics manufacturing in the U.S.

Second, Starlux has made no secret of its desire to join the Oneworld alliance, of which Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are members. Starlux already has a partnership with Alaska, and while it doesn’t currently have a relationship with American, AA operates a hub at Phoenix. If a future partnership or membership in Oneworld were to materialize, Starlux could capitalize on the existing Oneworld-centric infrastructure at the airport.

Final Thoughts

Starlux has already earned a great reputation among flyers, so we’re excited to see it expand to another U.S. city — notably one that isn’t served by its cross-town rivals, EVA and China Airlines.

While Phoenix may not have been our first guess for Starlux’s U.S. expansion, we’re happy to see the carrier making bold moves. This makes us eager to learn more about this airline’s future and its relationship to the Oneworld alliance in general and American Airlines in particular.