In just the last few years, Taiwan-based Starlux has expanded rapidly in the U.S., launching routes from four American gateways up and down the West Coast. The carrier's next addition is a surprising one.
The relatively new boutique Taiwanese carrier will fly to its Taipei (TPE) hub from Phoenix (PHX), with three to four weekly flights commencing sometime in early 2026. It'll be Phoenix's first-ever nonstop flight all the way across the Pacific – not just to Taiwan, but to anywhere in Asia.
Starlux's flights between Phoenix and Taipei aren't on sale yet. And the airline doesn't yet have an official start date as officials are still seeking the necessary regulatory permissions to begin the route.
But why Phoenix? The announcement from Mayor Kate Gallego came as a shock to travelers and the entire aviation industry – it doesn't exactly fit in with its existing route map from metro areas like Los Angeles (LAX) and nearby Ontario (ONT), San Francisco (SFO), or Seattle (SEA).
Is Starlux banking on connecting Arizonans through Taipei and onward into mainland China or throughout Southeast Asia? Is it betting it can fill up planes with passengers connecting with American Airlines, if and when the airline joins the Oneworld alliance?
Maybe … but there's also this: A Taiwanese technology company is pouring $165 billion into the Phoenix area to manufacture semiconductors. Gallego and the Phoenix airport explicitly mentioned the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)'s new facilities as a driving force behind the new route.
But even if you're not a highly paid semiconductor executive, travelers are in for a treat. Starlux will operate one of its swanky A350-900 aircraft with 306 seats onboard – including four first class seats, 26 business class suites, and 36 premium economy seats before the economy cabin.
Currently, Phoenix's only long-haul flights have been to Europe, with American and British Airways operating London-Heathrow (LHR) routes and Air France running a Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) route that started in 2024. German-based Condor bowed out of Phoenix in 2024.
Starlux – which fancies itself a true “luxury” carrier – doesn't often run appealing sales with low prices for every day travelers, so the airline is clearly banking on some high-end business traffic on the route. But for travelers with some miles in their accounts, there is a fantastic way to book Starlux.
If you have Alaska MileagePlan miles, you can occasionally book Starlux flights for 37,500 points each way in economy or 75,000 points each way in business class! Best of all, when flying from the U.S. to Taipei, it will only cost you $19 in taxes and fees in any cabin!
Now, award availability to book at these low rates is tough to come by in business class. But that's just what we found a few months back, helping travelers book a trip to Asia in Starlux business class from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle this year. It was rare enough to earn our special “Unicorn Alert” branding.
While booking Starlux – especially in business class – isn't a slam dunk, it's worth keeping some Alaska miles around in case it pops up. And Alaska miles are easier to earn than ever thanks to a sneaky workaround that allows you to transfer American Express points to Alaska through Hawaiian Airlines. But don't wait: Amex to Hawaiian transfers will end June 30.
Flights aren't on sale just yet – and it's not clear when they will be. But if you're based in Phoenix (or willing to book a positioning flight), watch this closely one closely: Brand-new routes often yield great award space.
Bottom Line
Arizona has its first-ever nonstop flight to Asia as the city and Starlux Airlines announced a new route connecting Phoenix (PHX) and Taipei (TPE) starting in 2026.
A multi-billion dollar investment in a semiconductor plant from a Taiwanese company was the catalyst for the new route, but travelers in the desert should soon have a new, exciting way to get to Asia.
Lead photo courtesy of Starlux Airlines
