Starlux Airlines aiming to join Oneworld airline alliance by the end of 2025

Starlux Airlines, the youngest of Taiwan’s three international carriers, has announced that it intends to join Oneworld, the global airline alliance, before the end of 2025.

In an announcement made to investors on Monday, September 16, 2024, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Chai Chien-Hua said that joining the alliance would directly benefit the airline itself while also providing Taiwan with its first foothold in the Oneworld alliance, considered to be one of the world’s most dominant and influential airline groups.

Speaking more about the carrier’s plans, Chai said that should Starlux’s application to Oneworld be accepted, the carrier would capitalize on a range of benefits that being a member of the alliance presents. These include the aligning of flight schedules, connecting passengers at hub airports, and the joining of loyalty programs with partner airlines to enhance the overall passenger experience.

The Oneworld Alliance currently boasts 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas, among others. The alliance’s group of airlines currently serves over 900 destinations spread across 170 countries worldwide.

AirbusStarlux was founded in 2018 and operated its first flight in 2020. The carrier now serves 28 destinations across 11 countries with a modern fleet of 24 aircraft which comprises 13 Airbus A321neos,  five A330-900neos, and six A350-900s.

It competes in the international market alongside fellow Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and EVA Air. While the former is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, EVA Air is a member of Star Alliance. 

On the back of a strong financial performance throughout 2024 so far, Starlux is continuing with its ambitions to open up more new routes in the coming months. On its radar are new destinations in North America, Europe, China, and Australia. The airline recently added direct flights between Taipei and Seattle in August 2024 and the US west coast destination joins Los Angeles and San Francisco as a trio of US cities currently served by the airline from its hub in Taipei.

Additionally, the carrier has a further 26 aircraft on order including four more A350-900s plus five A350 freighters. The fleet is expected to expand to 33 aircraft by 2025 and 53 by 2029.

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DefensebyIan MolyneauxSeptember 18, 2024

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