Phoenix to Get First Asia Nonstop Flight
Starlux Airlines will inaugurate Phoenix’s first nonstop service to Asia when it launches four weekly flights between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport early next year. The new route, pending government approvals, will be operated with Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured with 306 seats across four cabin classes, offering premium and economy travelers a seamless link between the Southwest and East Asia.
The announcement underscores Phoenix’s emergence as an international hub, buoyed by a record $165 billion investment by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company in the city’s chipmaking industry. TSMC’s expansion plans include three advanced fabrication plants, two packaging facilities and a major research and development center—making it the largest foreign direct investment in U.S. history. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego hailed the airline’s decision as proof of the local economy’s global progress and the community’s growing appeal to international carriers.
Starlux Chairman Kuo-Wei Chang emphasized the strategic timing of the new service, noting that the surge in business and cultural exchanges between Phoenix and Taipei made nonstop flights a natural step. He recalled his first visit to Phoenix as confirmation that the city deserved direct connectivity at Starlux’s signature level of hospitality. Chang added that the airline is proud to be the first to offer nonstop Asia service to Phoenix, meeting the needs of corporate travelers, technology professionals and leisure passengers alike.
Data from Sabre Market Intelligence illustrates the route’s potential, reporting 67,000 two-way passengers on Phoenix–Taiwan itineraries in 2024—an average of 92 travelers each day in both directions. Taiwan ranked as the second-largest Asian market from Phoenix after India, and with approximately 30,000 Taiwanese residents already calling Arizona home—a figure expected to grow alongside TSMC’s footprint—demand for a direct link is projected to rise further.
To support future long-haul routes, PHX recently broke ground on a new $326 million north concourse at Terminal 3. The eight-gate facility, scheduled to open in 2026, is being designed for both domestic and international operations and will help accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the A350 series. Airport officials have noted that the expanded concourse will provide state-of-the-art passenger amenities and operational flexibility for new international carriers and additional frequencies.
Starlux’s Phoenix expansion follows its planned launch of four-times-weekly service to Ontario International Airport on June 2, marking its fourth U.S. destination and second in the Los Angeles basin. That route will give Southern California travelers an alternative to Los Angeles International Airport for nonstop travel to Taiwan. Taken together, the Ontario and Phoenix services reflect Starlux’s wider North American growth strategy focused on under-served markets with strong business and diaspora ties.
Industry analysts believe that Starlux’s entry into Phoenix will intensify competition on transpacific routes, compelling other carriers to enhance schedules and inflight offerings. By deploying the A350-900, known for its fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, Starlux aims to set a new standard in Transpacific travel from the Mountain time zone. The airline’s commitment to premium service and modern cabins is expected to resonate with high-yield passengers and corporate clients.
As Starlux prepares regulatory filings and finalizes operational plans, travel agents and corporate travel managers are already fielding inquiries from technology firms, manufacturing executives and leisure planners eager to secure seats on the inaugural flights. With nonstop connectivity between Phoenix and Taipei on the horizon, travelers in Arizona will soon gain direct access to one of Asia’s leading technology hubs, further cementing Phoenix’s status on the global aviation map.
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