It looks like Starlux Airlines is planning on launching flights to Los Angeles as of April 2023, so we (hopefully) don’t have to wait that much longer before learning more details about this exciting service.
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Starlux Airlines launching USA flights in April 2023
Taipei-based Starlux Airlines is still a relatively new airline, but has big expansion plans. The airline currently flies A321neos and A330-900neos, and will also soon start taking delivery of A350-900s.
Starlux Airlines eventually plans to fly to several cities in the United States, and the intent all along has been for Los Angeles (LAX) to be the first. While Starlux had initially planned to launch flights to Los Angeles as of June 2022, that has been pushed back due to aircraft deliveries and the pandemic.
It looks like Starlux Airlines is moving forward with its plans to serve the United States, as the airline has revealed that it plans to launch North America service as of April 2023. Several weeks back, the airline had posted on Facebook about hiring for positions at LAX, including for passenger sales, customer service, finance, HR, cargo, and more.
Starlux has already received permission from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch flights to the United States, so that’s a major hurdle the airline has overcome. The airline potentially plans to offer service to up to 15 cities in the United States over time, though only time will tell how many of those airports Starlux actually serves.
What we know about Starlux Airlines’ A350s
Starlux Airlines plans to fly to the United States with A350s, including both the -900 and -1000 models. Starlux’s short haul business class product is phenomenal, so I can’t wait to see what kind of a premium cabin product the airline offers on long haul flights.
What we do know is that:
- Starlux intends to offer first class on A350s
- At least according to regulatory filings, Starlux’s A350s will be quite dense, as A350-900s are expected to feature 306 seats, which sure makes me wonder about the layout
Regardless, I’m sure Starlux will impress. While most airline startups are low cost, Starlux is going upmarket, and describes itself as a “detail-oriented luxury airline.” The onboard experience really reflects that, with an absolutely spectacular soft product. Then again, China Airlines and EVA Air aren’t too shabby in business class either.
I’m also looking forward to put my Starlux COSMILE Insighter status to the test. 😉 Now if only Starlux Airlines could get some airline partnerships, so that there’s a good way to earn & redeem points for these flights. Aeroplan, I’m looking at you!
Bottom line
I’m excited for Starlux Airlines to launch long haul flights, and it sounds like things are on track for Los Angeles service to start as of April 2023. There are still quite a few unknowns, including what Starlux’s A350 interiors will be like.
Unfortunately Taiwan continues to remain closed to most travelers, with eligible travelers having to undergo a quarantine. Until that changes, this flight will only be useful to many if connecting elsewhere, like Bangkok or Singapore.
Do you think Starlux Airlines will launch LAX flights in April 2023?
Nope, ain’t gonna happen.
Just like Air Premia didn’t materialize its LAX.
Maybe 2024.
@ConcordBoy:
Cathay has all sorts of issues related to Hong Kong's pandemic lockdowns (and
political crackdowns). I suspect that there are quite a few folks who don't mind an East Asian transfer point but who don't want to deal with transiting HK anymore (since even if things are fine "now", for the applicable value of "now", that doesn't mean they'll be fine at any given date in the future.
Also, Cathay has been...
@ConcordBoy:
Cathay has all sorts of issues related to Hong Kong's pandemic lockdowns (and
political crackdowns). I suspect that there are quite a few folks who don't mind an East Asian transfer point but who don't want to deal with transiting HK anymore (since even if things are fine "now", for the applicable value of "now", that doesn't mean they'll be fine at any given date in the future.
Also, Cathay has been in trouble (financially) for quite a while and I believe they have retrenched off of North America to some extent vis-a-vis 3-4 years ago (dropping a few destinations and converting others to cargo-only). It isn't too hard to imagine a network expansion putting Cathay out of business within OW.
I don’t see much of a future for CX. I think they’ll greatly reduce their network so that it’s almost all domestic and intra-Asia, with some international flights to places like LHR, SFO, YVR, maybe also LAX and JFK, that at least have plenty of HKG VFR demand (largely due to the Cantonese speaking diaspora in those places). And Australia might be reduced to just Sydney. I think they’re going to become like Xiamen Air...
I don’t see much of a future for CX. I think they’ll greatly reduce their network so that it’s almost all domestic and intra-Asia, with some international flights to places like LHR, SFO, YVR, maybe also LAX and JFK, that at least have plenty of HKG VFR demand (largely due to the Cantonese speaking diaspora in those places). And Australia might be reduced to just Sydney. I think they’re going to become like Xiamen Air or one of those more obscure secondary Chinese airlines that only have a few intercontinental routes. They will no longer look anything like SQ. Long term, expect to fly on a Shenzhen Airlines A350 or 777X.
Not really too hard to imagine the capacity, DL also crams 306 into an A359, and they do it with 4 different seating layouts.
Is Starlux planning to offer both a Premium Economy and an Economy Plus?
If not, that fairly easily explains how they can get a row of F into the equation, and still maintain 300+ without going 10abreast.
I wonder if the Taiwan market is big enough for 3 players, EVA, China Airlines, and Starlux?
One World needs Starlux and vice versa. Airline miles are not the same as before with miles earned for everything except flying but they are still a good thing to have.
Someday, airlines will give 1 mile per $100 spent and you'll need 500,000 miles for a domestic US flight. In 1981, you needed 50,000 miles for...
I wonder if the Taiwan market is big enough for 3 players, EVA, China Airlines, and Starlux?
One World needs Starlux and vice versa. Airline miles are not the same as before with miles earned for everything except flying but they are still a good thing to have.
Someday, airlines will give 1 mile per $100 spent and you'll need 500,000 miles for a domestic US flight. In 1981, you needed 50,000 miles for a domestic flight. It went down to 20,000 miles and many bonuses given. Now, you no longer earn 1 mile per mile flown and often need about 40,000 miles for a US domestic flight.
"One World needs Starlux and vice versa."
For what purpose, exactly?
When Cathay is right there, and China Southern (technically not OneWorld, but partners with AA/BA/AY/IB/JL/QF/QR) is as well.
Without Cathay in the picture (predicting they eventually get absorbed into Shenzhen Airlines and become more aligned with Air China and Star Alliance) it makes a lot more sense. It also wouldn’t affect nearby CZ because CZ has different partners, and in fact it might be good for the growing Pearl River Delta to have more alliance options. Now with the NSL, assuming things open up, TPE will likely become more attractive than HKG as...
Without Cathay in the picture (predicting they eventually get absorbed into Shenzhen Airlines and become more aligned with Air China and Star Alliance) it makes a lot more sense. It also wouldn’t affect nearby CZ because CZ has different partners, and in fact it might be good for the growing Pearl River Delta to have more alliance options. Now with the NSL, assuming things open up, TPE will likely become more attractive than HKG as a transfer hub or tourist destination. JX could become the new CX.
Starlux F as an Insighter is the single flight review I am most looking forward to!
Scoop around local airline community has indicated JX has converted all 35K to 359. However F cabin plan still sticks.