Phoenix Soars: New Taipei Route Ends City's Asian Isolation

PHOENIX, AZ – January 16, 2026 – A celebratory water arch salute greeted STARLUX Airlines flight JX026 as it touched down at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Friday, marking a pivotal moment for both the luxury Taiwanese carrier and the American Southwest. The inaugural nonstop flight from Taipei officially forges a long-awaited direct link between the Valley of the Sun and Asia, ending Phoenix's distinction as the largest U.S. metropolitan area without such a connection.

The arrival of the next-generation Airbus A350-900 aircraft was met with an inaugural ceremony attended by city and airline leaders, all celebrating a route that promises to reshape trade, tourism, and travel for the entire region.

A Milestone for the Valley of the Sun

For Phoenix, the new service is the culmination of a decade-long effort to secure direct air access to Asia. The lack of nonstop flights has long been seen as a barrier to global competitiveness, forcing business and leisure travelers into inconvenient and time-consuming connections through West Coast hubs. The economic implications of bridging this gap are immense.

Projections estimate the new STARLUX route could generate an annual economic impact of up to $170 million for Arizona. This infusion is expected to bolster tourism, support local jobs, and significantly strengthen business ties. “This is a milestone event for the City of Phoenix,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “STARLUX was the first to commit to ending Phoenix being the only major American city without non-stop service to and from Asia.”

The timing of the new route is particularly crucial, aligning with massive foreign investment in the state. Most notably, the direct connection to Taipei will be vital for supporting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) multibillion-dollar chip fabrication plant under construction in North Phoenix—the largest foreign direct investment in U.S. history. The flight will facilitate the seamless movement of executives, engineers, and supply-chain partners, underpinning the project's success and fostering a deeper economic partnership.

“This new Phoenix-Taipei route provides our travelers with the much-desired service to Asia,” added Aviation Director Chad Makovsky. “It not only offers travelers a chance to explore Taiwan, but to experience the entire Asia region. This new route also supports jobs, brings further economic benefits, and creates new opportunities for our airport and all of Arizona.”

STARLUX's Bold Ascent in a Crowded Sky

For STARLUX Airlines, the Phoenix launch represents a calculated and strategic expansion into the competitive U.S. market. Phoenix is the carrier's fifth U.S. gateway—joining Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Ontario, California—and its first in the American Southwest. The move highlights a strategy of targeting fast-growing, underserved markets with significant economic potential.

Founded on the philosophy that “luxury should be available to everyone,” the boutique airline has rapidly carved out a reputation for premium service and safety since its inception. In a remarkable ascent, STARLUX has already earned a coveted Skytrax 5-Star Airline rating and a 7-Star PLUS Safety Rating from AirlineRatings, one of only three airlines globally to achieve the highest safety distinction. This focus on a high-quality passenger experience is central to its brand identity as it competes with established legacy carriers on transpacific routes.

“Today, STARLUX delivers our promise to Phoenix,” said Glenn Chai, Chief Executive Officer of STARLUX Airlines. “Phoenix represents a vibrant and fast-growing market with tremendous business and tourism potential. Today’s launch reflects our confidence in the region and our commitment to strengthening travel and trade links.”

The airline's ambitions do not end on the West Coast. With new, longer-range Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on order, STARLUX is actively planning further expansion into the U.S. East Coast and its first European routes, signaling its intent to become a major player in global aviation.

Forging Alliances in a New Competitive Arena

A critical component of the new route's viability is STARLUX's interline partnership with American Airlines. This agreement allows travelers to book a single ticket for journeys connecting from more than 40 U.S. cities through Phoenix to Taipei and onward to STARLUX's network of 26 Asian destinations. The partnership effectively transforms Phoenix into a viable transpacific gateway for a vast swath of the country, providing STARLUX with crucial passenger feed and offering American's customers a premium option for Asian travel.

However, STARLUX is not entering an uncontested market. While it was the first airline to publicly commit to the route, rival carrier China Airlines reportedly launched its own direct Phoenix-Taipei service in late 2025, narrowly becoming the first to operate the flight. This development establishes immediate competition on the city-pair, setting the stage for a battle for market share where service quality, pricing, and network convenience will be key differentiators.

The competitive dynamic underscores the high demand for this connection and will likely benefit consumers with more options and competitive fares as both airlines vie to attract travelers from the burgeoning Southwest region.

A New Standard for Transpacific Journeys

Travelers on the new route will experience STARLUX's flagship Airbus A350-900, an aircraft renowned for its quiet cabin, fuel efficiency, and passenger comfort. The airline offers a four-class configuration, including First, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy, all designed with an emphasis on a luxurious and comfortable inflight experience.

The thrice-weekly service offers a convenient schedule for both business and leisure travel. Flight JX025 departs Phoenix on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 22:45, arriving in Taipei two days later at 04:55. The return flight, JX026, departs Taipei at 20:45 and arrives in Phoenix at 17:40 on the same day. These timings are designed to facilitate smooth connections to the American Airlines network in Phoenix and to STARLUX's extensive web of destinations across Asia.

The inaugural ceremony at Phoenix Sky Harbor, complete with a ribbon-cutting and a commemorative model aircraft exchange, highlighted the shared optimism for the route's future. The collaboration between the city, the airport, and the airline's U.S. partners marks the beginning of a new chapter, one that finally bridges the desert and the ocean and firmly places Phoenix on the global aviation map.