Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines has revealed its next destination in the United States, and it’s not what you’d expect… or maybe it is? While I first wrote about the schedule for this flight being filed several days ago, there’s now an update, as the flight is on sale.
In this post:
Starlux launching Taipei to Ontario flights as of June 2025
As of June 2, 2025, Starlux Airlines plans to launch 4x weekly flights between Taipei, Taiwan (TPE), and Ontario, California (ONT). Flights are now on sale, with the following schedule:
JX10 Taipei to Ontario departing 8:05PM arriving 5:05PM
JX09 Ontario to Taipei departing 11:10PM arriving 4:15AM (+2 days)
The 6,831-mile flight will operate in each direction on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The flight will be blocked at 12hr eastbound and 14hr5min westbound.
As is the case on all of the carrier’s routes to the United States, this will be flown by an Airbus A350-900. That plane is equipped with 306 seats, including four first class seats, 26 business class seats, 36 premium economy seats, and 240 economy seats. I’ve reviewed Starlux’s excellent A350 business class.
Ontario will be Starlux’s fourth destination in the United States, complementing flights to Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA).
Keep in mind that Starlux has a partnership with Alaska, meaning that it’s possible to earn and redeem Mileage Plan miles for travel on Starlux. With this flight having just been loaded into the schedule, I see a fair amount of award availability. Most flights seem to have one business class award seat, two premium economy award seats, and four economy award seats.
My take on Starlux’s latest long haul expansion
I think most people would’ve assumed that Starlux Airlines’ next destinations might’ve been to some place not on the West Coast. However, I can’t really say that I’m that surprised by this addition.
Taiwan has three global airlines, and keep in mind that China Airlines already operates this exact route. The airline launched the service back in 2018, and it has been very successful, to the point that it now operates daily.
There’s a huge Taiwanese population in Southern California, so obviously this is primarily about point-to-point traffic, and isn’t about feeding into other markets in the United States.
Back when China Airlines launched service, the airport provided significant incentives for that service to launch. I have to imagine that Starlux is getting the same. It’s kind of funny how Ontario will have long haul flights on two airlines, both serving the same route.
In general, Taiwan just generates an unbelievable amount of traffic. I mean, just look at the amount of volume in other markets out of Taiwan. San Francisco has up to seven daily flights on four airlines, Los Angeles has up to seven daily flights on three airlines, and Seattle has up to five daily flights on four airlines.
A lot of people are exclusively traveling between Taiwan and the United States, but Taipei is also a big connecting hub, for those traveling to and from other points in Asia.
Bottom line
As of June 2025, Starlux Airlines plans to launch 4x weekly flights between Taipei and Ontario, which will be the carrier’s fourth route to the United States. This route is already served by China Airlines. So while Ontario might seem like a random destination given its lack of long haul service, this ultimately reflects the size of the Taiwanese population in Southern California.
What do you make of Starlux launching Ontario flights?
I dont see 75K anywhere. EVERY date looks like 175K. Funny how LUCKY always gets "lucky" and finds these lower fares. Something is fishy
Nothing fishy. You are just 4 days late to the game.
Given how congested LAX has become (especially during holidays and summer seasons), I hope this route will be upgraded to daily and followed by other airlines (ANA/Japan Airlines, SQ and Cathay Pacific)
3 global airlines for such a small country is not sustainable. Something will give.
Looks like the glitch with releasing saver award space is gone and fixed within minutes of releasing this. All I see is 175k each way awards.
Booking up quick! Had my date in the cart and somebody beat me to it!
Not a surprise considering the large Asian population of the nearby San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire as a whole.
@Volan
yes, except that the area around London Stansted is not exclusively populated by Emiratis. The Ontario California region is almost entirely a Chinese (in whatever form or generation) enclave. Schools are Chinese, Dentists are Chinese, Real Estate offices are Chinese, even TGI Friday has Chinese menu cards and staff.
Hilariously inaccurate. Ontario is less than 8% Asian. If you head west roughly 20-30 minutes you’ll find what you describe.
And any local living in that area 20-30 minutes west (hi!) would probably still save 1-2 hours from front door to gate at Ontario compared to LAX, with low stress too.
The San Gabriel Valley is still in LA County. But this whole area east and southeast of Pasadena has massive Asian communities that benefit from the China Airlines and Starlux ONT routes, whether to Taipei or connecting elsewhere in the region.
Just anecdotal evidence, and no access to the actual stats, but it looks like many TPAC flights that land at TPE feed connecting traffic to other Asian destinations, such as Vietnam, Philippines, or Thailand... Sometimes just a relative handful of passengers would terminate at TPE.
Same on the outbound flights. TPE check-in counters may feel breezily empty for the midnight bank departures, but departing gates become full around 11 pm anyway...
Yes! i love going to ONT from San Diego, and avoid LAX. However, ONT's TSA needs an upgrade, these people are super slow and not very friendly.
Get Clear. Never wait more than 5 minutes from when I walk in the door till clearing TSA.
Why does Taiwan generate so much traffic? Yes there is a large overseas population in the West Coast, but it doesn't seem that proportionally large to other overseas populations. Also of note is limited service from non Taiwanese carriers
It generates a significant amount of origin/destination traffic, but not as disproportionately as its total traffic figures would suggest.
TPE is the only airport in the world that's home-base to THREE carriers with a global longhaul model (or in the case of StarLux, aspirations), and all three of them have connections at the core of that model.
I do question the longterm stability, as their average fare for many markets is way below peer gateways...
It generates a significant amount of origin/destination traffic, but not as disproportionately as its total traffic figures would suggest.
TPE is the only airport in the world that's home-base to THREE carriers with a global longhaul model (or in the case of StarLux, aspirations), and all three of them have connections at the core of that model.
I do question the longterm stability, as their average fare for many markets is way below peer gateways such as HKG, SIN, etc.
But with HKG still being a shit-show compared to its pre-2018 glory, TYO being a split hub, ICN rationalizing a multi-year merger, and the Chinese mainland still at less than half its previous TPAC traffic.......... TPE has far and away been the beneficiary, currently.
Let's see how long, and to what extent, it lasts.
What happened to JX saying they wanted DFW/IAH/JFK lmao
I always knew those were bizarre choices.
How are they "bizarre choices," when JFK is the country's third highest O&D gateway to TPE, and IAH is (for BR) the 2nd largest feeder gateway (not just in the USA, but systemwide) for their connections to Asia, as per 2023?
DFW is a bit the odd man out (by far the highest ratio of available seat capacity to origin traffic, of the three), and only recently added...
How are they "bizarre choices," when JFK is the country's third highest O&D gateway to TPE, and IAH is (for BR) the 2nd largest feeder gateway (not just in the USA, but systemwide) for their connections to Asia, as per 2023?
DFW is a bit the odd man out (by far the highest ratio of available seat capacity to origin traffic, of the three), and only recently added BR just 3 months ago.... but that alone shows that the route as a concept isn't exactly "bizarre."
i would expect DFW over IAH if JX has oneworld ambitions/connectivity
The only issues is the awful international arrivals which is literally shed as there is no CBP in the main terminals. ONT gets very cold in winter and very hot in summer . Perhaps they will build a new one between 2 and 4 since there is a massive space, and unsure why they are not renamed 1 and 2.
There are Aspire Lounges in each terminal.
LAX is also much better connected transport...
The only issues is the awful international arrivals which is literally shed as there is no CBP in the main terminals. ONT gets very cold in winter and very hot in summer . Perhaps they will build a new one between 2 and 4 since there is a massive space, and unsure why they are not renamed 1 and 2.
There are Aspire Lounges in each terminal.
LAX is also much better connected transport wise in terms of anything west of the San Gabriel Valley. Metrolink rail is not far away however they need to build a direct line to the terminal.
It is a bit like Stansted to Dubai on EK. A bit further out but still London catchment area - and for some people, works better than LHR or LGW.
Does ONT have any lounge space for F or Biz passengers? I don't recall any type of airline lounge the last time I was through that airport.
they have the escape lounge. CI use to have their own lounge in the beginning, but i think it wasn't worth it for just 1 flight, along with covid at the time. im pretty sure they will just use the same lounge. Now for the first class passengers, that is a interesting service I am waiting to see what they get.
2 Aspire Lounges
Thanks for the info.
yes Aspire. got the name wrong on that. my curious question those is, what elite service will they do for their First class passengers? Like LAX they use the PRIVATE SUITE.
Can we expect EVA as well?!
I'm not sure how China does with their 777s, but I would assume that the A350s would be better suited especially once they start getting their 1000s.
Ontario is a big market, sure, but probably not one that fits all 3 Taiwanese airlines like SFO and LAX
Ont is very underrated. It’s so easy to get in and out of and is still very convenient for la (more so east la and valley), oc, and the desert.
I fly often into LAX, SNA, or SAN. I’d pick ONT over lax any day if it wasn’t for lack of direct flights
Ontario to Taiwan will now have almost 3 times as much service as Taiwan to London…
Crazy difference.
I was really wondering if we'd see Cathay launch Ontario from Hong Kong, since they were finally starting to get their act together. I guess this puts a damper on that.
Also note that for the demographic / audience of this flight, Ontario probably is as convenient as LAX, or more (lots of Asian communities around SGV / LA).
The passengers better have a relative picking them up or renting a car. No taxi , Uber , or shuttles can go all the way out there from LA just for 5 mile rides into San Gabriel Valley. Doesn’t work logistically.
You do realize that people who live around Ontario also drive Uber, right? I've never had trouble getting a ride from Ontario.
Not true. This is my home airport and Uber is readily available, as are taxis.
@Brodie
How far away do you live from ONT ?
@D3Kingg,
Rancho
Not remotely true, I live in Rancho and Uber/Lyft have been available for years.
Given the 11pm departure time, I'm sure there will be plenty of shuttles provided by Ontario Mills so travelers can go straight to the flight after the mall closes.