This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but Starlux Airlines has just updated their inventory to reflect that they’ll be suspending operations.
In this post:
Starlux Airlines cancels flights through April 30, 2020
Starlux Airlines will be suspending operations from March 21 through April 30, 2020. I recently wrote about how this very unlucky startup was down to just a single route — Taipei to Da Nang — and that’s the route that’s now being suspended.
As of now the plan is for the airline to operate four daily flights as of May 1, 2020, including:
- 2x daily Taipei to Da Nang
- 1x daily Taipei to Macau
- 1x daily Taipei to Penang
Even that isn’t nearly as much as the 7x daily flights that Starlux Airlines was supposed to operate at that time.
Starlux Airlines A321neo cabin
Starlux Airlines just launched operations in January
Starlux Airlines only launched operations in late January, and it’s an airline I’ve been so excited about. They’re one of the few airline startups with a focus on luxury and service, and that was so evident when I flew with them between Taipei and Penang shortly after launch.
The airline couldn’t have had unluckier timing, given that Starlux launched operations right as COVID-19 became a global problem.
I certainly hope that Starlux Airlines is well funded and can make it through this. The airline was founded by the former Chairman of EVA Air, who was kicked out at the airline due to a power struggle following his father’s death.
He’s an awesome guy, and also a pilot for the airline, which is pretty awesome.
Starlux Airlines Lounge Taipei Taoyuan
Bottom line
Starlux Airlines is suspending operations through April 30, 2020, which is probably the prudent thing for the airline to do. I hope the airline makes it through this crisis, because they’re really offering something special, and have big plans to go global, with more A321neos, as well as A350s, on order.
Talk about starting a great airline at the wrong time, through no fault of the management…
Good chance you will still see them around, I googled them recently and it appears that they are using the aircraft belly capacity for regular cargo flights to Penang and Macau and are apparently covering their variable costs which is as good as any airline can get at this time
Nice.
Air China and EVA Air are really close, unofficially. The fact that TW favored China Airlines to fly most of the lucrative routes to China meant that when Air China offered friendship, it was secretly love at first sight. ANA had pulled EVA's Southeast Asia customer base from beneath them. Both indirectly control Air Macau, and Air China is also dangling domestic China operations at the proposed Xiamen Xiang'an (if they don't call...
Nice.
Air China and EVA Air are really close, unofficially. The fact that TW favored China Airlines to fly most of the lucrative routes to China meant that when Air China offered friendship, it was secretly love at first sight. ANA had pulled EVA's Southeast Asia customer base from beneath them. Both indirectly control Air Macau, and Air China is also dangling domestic China operations at the proposed Xiamen Xiang'an (if they don't call it Xiamen Amoy or Whampoa Bay International Airport it'd be a missed opportunity). China is offering Taiwan stateshare, a South Africa style thing of multiple capitals. The population could potentially breach 2 billion so when u look at it that way, Hong Kong is looking Iike it is appealing a failed verdict, unhappy that they'll be essentially ruled by TW politically and Singapore economically.
Chang Kuo-wei, the ex-executive of EVA Air and the current executive of Starlux, had just claimed back his ownership to EVA Air again by solving the succession issue with his brothers. Now that EVA Air came back to his hand, I think he might be capable of utilising more funds to support Starlux while keeping EVA Air survived. That is good news for him.
This is particularly bad news for the Airlines only Elite Lucky
That's too bad. I hope they come back strong.
This is because Taiwan just barred all foreigners from entering.
They will definitely survive, the Chang empire was built on logistics and shipping, they are cash rich.
Now just keep your fingers crossed that Qantas, Delta, SQ and others are around long enough to provide you extended membership services.
@fritz excellent. Waiting on SQ which is the one I really want!
Just got a similar one from Delta. I’m Gold
Just got an email. Qantas status extended by 12 months. Automatic extension.
They will be around. According to several Taiwanese newspapers, the CEO just inherited tons of money from his dad, the founder of EVA Air. So, yeah, they will keep flying.