STARLUX Airlines to Launch Phoenix's First Nonstop Asia Flight in January 2026

Highlights

• STARLUX Airlines will begin nonstop Phoenix-to-Taipei service on January 15, 2026, the first Asia nonstop in Sky Harbor's history.
• The route runs three times weekly, with reservations already open per the airport's press release.
• The launch positions PHX alongside Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle as a transpacific gateway for Arizona-based travelers and businesses.
• Scottsdale residents are roughly 15 to 20 minutes from Sky Harbor, making the new route directly accessible without a connecting hub.

STARLUX Airlines will begin nonstop service between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Taipei on January 15, 2026, making it the first direct flight between the Phoenix metro and Asia in the airport's history, according to a press release published by Sky Harbor.

The carrier will operate three flights per week on the Phoenix-Taipei route. Reservations are open now, per the airport's announcement.

For Scottsdale and Paradise Valley executives who currently connect through Los Angeles or San Francisco for Asia travel, the route removes a leg. Sky Harbor sits roughly 15 to 20 minutes from Scottsdale, according to published drive-time estimates.

The launch was first reported by KJZZ and subsequently confirmed by The Points Analyst and azcentral.

Why does this matter for Phoenix business travelers?

Phoenix has been the largest U.S. hub market without a nonstop Asia connection, a gap that has pushed Arizona-based companies with Pacific Rim operations to route through California. The STARLUX launch on January 15 closes that gap, with Taipei serving as a connection point to broader East and Southeast Asia networks.

Service begins January 15, 2026.

Sources

Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.

1. skyharbor.com retrieved 09/05/2026 07:52
2. kjzz.org retrieved 09/05/2026 07:52
3. thepointsanalyst.com retrieved 09/05/2026 07:52
4. AZ Central retrieved 09/05/2026 07:52
5. scottsdal.com retrieved 09/05/2026 07:52

Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 09/05/2026 07:52. Every claim traces to a source.