Starlux Airlines to Launch Phoenix's First Nonstop Asia Flight Since the Early 1990s

Highlights

• Starlux Airlines will launch nonstop Phoenix Sky Harbor-to-Taipei service in early 2026, pending regulatory approval.
• Flights will run three to four times per week aboard an A350-900 configured for 306 passengers.
• The route marks Phoenix's first nonstop connection to Asia since the early 1990s.
• Starlux already serves Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle from Asia, making Phoenix its fourth U.S. gateway.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is set to gain its first nonstop flight to Asia in roughly three decades. Starlux Airlines, the Taiwanese carrier, plans to launch nonstop service between Sky Harbor and Taipei beginning in early 2026, pending government approval, according to a Phoenix Sky Harbor press release and a City of Phoenix announcement.

The airline plans to operate three to four flights per week using an A350-900 aircraft with 306 seats, as FOX 10 Phoenix first reported. Starlux received its air operator certificate from Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration in December 2019 and flew its inaugural flights in January 2020.

Why does this matter for Phoenix business travelers?

Phoenix has not had a nonstop connection to Asia since the early 1990s. For the Valley's semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, and trade-dependent business community, a direct Taipei link cuts a layover-heavy itinerary to a single flight. Starlux currently flies from Asia to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle; Phoenix would become its fourth U.S. gateway.

Service is contingent on government approval. No specific launch date has been disclosed beyond early 2026.

Sources

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

1. Fox 10 Phoenix 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.