Several weeks ago, Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines launched service to its third destination in the United States. While this service is initially being operated 3x weekly, it will soon be expanded to daily. Let’s take a look at the details, plus the bigger picture competitive landscape, which is pretty remarkable.
Starlux Airlines’ flights from Taipei to Seattle
For some background, as of August 16, 2024, Starlux Airlines started flying between Taipei (TPE) and Seattle (SEA). The flight operates with the following schedule:
JX32 Taipei to Seattle departing 8:00PM arriving 4:15PM
JX31 Seattle to Taipei departing 2:10AM arriving 5:10AM (+1 day)
The 6,075-mile flight currently operates 3x weekly. The eastbound flight is blocked at 11hr15min and operates on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while the westbound flight is blocked at 12hr and operates on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
However, as reported by AeroRoutes, Starlux will soon be expanding service in this market. As of March 1, 2025, Starlux will operate daily flights to Seattle, more than doubling the current capacity.
Starlux uses an Airbus A350-900 for all of its routes to the United States. The airline first started flying to Los Angeles (LAX) as of April 2023, and then started flying to San Francisco (SFO) as of December 2023. Starlux’s A350-900s feature 306 seats, spread across four cabins, including:
- Four first class seats
- 26 business class seats
- 36 premium economy seats
- 240 economy class seats
Starlux is the only airline in Taiwan to offer first class. A350s feature four first class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration. First class suites feature 60-inch doors and privacy partitions, 32-inch 4K screens with bluetooth audio, zero-gravity seat settings, and personal wardrobes for storing luggage.
Starlux A350s feature 26 business class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration. Business class seats feature 48-inch doors and privacy partitions, 24-inch 4K screens with bluetooth audio, and zero-gravity seat settings.
Starlux A350s feature 36 premium economy seats, in a 2-4-2 configuration. Premium economy seats feature leg rests and footrest bars, and 15.6-inch 4K screens with bluetooth audio.
Starlux A350s feature 240 economy seats, in a 3-3-3 configuration. Economy seats feature 13-inch 4K screens with bluetooth audio.
I’ve reviewed Starlux Airlines’ A350 business class, which is a very good product, among my favorite business class experiences out there.
Starlux is an Alaska Mileage Plan partner, so it’s possible to redeem Mileage Plan miles for travel on Starlux. However, note that saver level business class award availability is virtually non-existent, so you’ll typically be paying at least 175,000 miles one-way.
Seattle to Taipei is a mighty competitive market
Taiwan is an incredibly competitive aviation market, with three top notch airlines. In addition to Starlux Airlines, you also have China Airlines and EVA Air. What’s kind of unbelievable is the level of competition we’re seeing between Seattle and Taipei, and in particular, how much more competitive it has become in recent times:
- EVA Air operates up to 10x weekly flights in the market, and was the first airline flying between the two airports
- Delta operates daily flights in the market, which were first launched in June 2024
- China Airlines operates 5x weekly flights in the market, which were first launched in July 2024
- Now we’re seeing Starlux increase service from 3x weekly to daily
It’s pretty wild that over the course of two months, we saw a market go from having one airline to having four airlines. Ultimately consumers are the winners here. I mean, just look at how cheap pricing is between the airports, as Delta has economy fares of under $400 one-way… for a 14-hour flight!
While Starlux has a great product, the airline also has some disadvantages. Starlux’s route network is much smaller than those of competitors, Starlux isn’t part of one of the global alliances (yet), and Starlux also doesn’t have terribly competitive pricing. At least Starlux has a partnership with Alaska Airlines, so the airline has connectivity in the Pacific Northwest.
Bottom line
In August 2024, Starlux Airlines launched a route between Taipei and Seattle. While the service is currently operating 3x weekly, as of March 2025 it will be increased to daily. This is such a competitive market, when you consider that it was historically only served by EVA Air, and within a couple of months we saw three airlines add service as well.
I’m very curious to see how this evolves, and which airline is first to cut (or at least scale back) service. Not that it means anything, but I find it interesting how Delta consistently has the cheapest economy pricing, while also having the highest cost structure.
What do you make of Starlux Airlines’ Seattle flights, plus the overall competition in the market?
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