Phoenix, or “Silicon Desert” as some within the tech trade have branded it, simply landed its first nonstop flight to Asia on an airline which will come as a shock.
Starlux Airways, Taiwan’s “luxurious airline,” plans to attach Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX) with Taiwan Taoyuan Worldwide Airport (TPE) in Taipei, Taiwan, starting in early 2026, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego announced Tuesday.
Whereas particulars are restricted till Starlux secures the mandatory regulatory approval, the airline plans to supply three or 4 weekly flights on board considered one of its luxurious Airbus A350-900 planes to Phoenix.
“I knew from the second I set foot in Phoenix that STARLUX ought to make the funding to fly right here,” mentioned Okay.W. Chang, the chairman of Starlux, in a press release. “Not solely is the expansion of enterprise between Taipei and Phoenix staggering, it is an ideal match for our stage of service.”
Starlux will provide Phoenix’s first nonstop flight to Asia, and be a part of the handful of international intercontinental carriers on the airport. Air France connects the city with Paris and British Airways flies to London; American Airways additionally flies between Phoenix and London.
Chances are you’ll be asking: Why Phoenix? Of all of the potential U.S. locations for Starlux, the Arizona capital doesn’t essentially rise to the highest of the record.
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The airline at present serves Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) and Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA), and flights to Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) start June 2.
Phoenix, nonetheless, makes a whole lot of sense. First, Starlux faces no competitors on the route. The dearth of competitors may give the airline an edge in carrying each Taiwan- and Asia-bound Phoenicians on its flights over different airways’ connecting choices.
Possibly extra importantly, Phoenix is an rising tech hub for the semiconductor trade — therefore the Silicon Desert nickname. Producer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which makes chips for Apple, Nvidia and different firms, is investing more than $65 billion in new Phoenix manufacturing services.
TSMC executives and employees members absolutely have to fly forwards and backwards from Taipei by some means.
Along with the possible journey demand, Starlux will profit from up to $4 million in financial incentives from the Phoenix airport. The funds can be found for advertising help and charge waivers for the primary two years of a brand new route with no current service from Asia.
These are all good causes for the airline to at the very least strive Taipei-Phoenix flights.
Vacationers can use Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles or Capital One miles to book Starlux’s new Phoenix flights when gross sales start.
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