Starlux to launch Sydney-Taiwan flights

Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines will launch direct flights to Sydney next year, challenging flag-carrier China Airlines to a share of the Sydney-Taipei market.

Starlux has confirmed its plans to Executive Traveller, and revealed that Auckland will be added to the Taipei–Sydney service as a trans-Tasman leg.

The Sydney-Taipei flights will feed into Starlux’s onward connections to North America and Europe, which in 2027 will also be expanded to Barcelona and Zurich.

Starlux will fly either the Airbus A330neo or A350-900 to Sydney.

Flight schedules for the Taipei-Sydney-Auckland services are currently being finalised, with further details to be announced shortly.

Taiwan is considered one of Sydney’s fastest-growing travel markets, with passenger numbers growing 18% in 2025 to almost 194,000 passengers.

“This new route will strengthen links between Australia and Taiwan, while providing customers with seamless connections through Taipei to destinations across Asia and beyond,” said Starlux Airlines CEO Glenn Chai.

In addition to direct Sydney-Taipei flights by China Airlines, Cathay Pacific has long been a popular way to journey to Taiwan via Hong Kong.

Starlux flights between Sydney and Taipei

“As the Starlux fleet enters a new phase of rapid growth, with the total fleet expected to reach 43 aircraft this year, our route network is also stepping into an exciting new chapter,” the airline says.

Starlux is expected to fly its Airbus A350-900 or A330neo to Sydney and Auckland; these jets complement the long-range A350-1000 flagship and regional A321neo workhorse.

Starlux's A330neo business class.

Both the A350 and A330neo include flatbed business class suites, with the A350-900 adding four first class suites plus a premium economy cabin.

When Executive Traveller reviewed Starlux’s A350 business class, we found it to be “a suitably stellar offering.”

The Taiwanese carrier, which describes itself as a “detail-oriented luxury airline” for premium business and leisure travellers, also remains keen on joining the Oneworld alliance.

Starlux's doored A350 business class suites.

This would effectively make it a Qantas partner and help Starlux level up against China Airlines and EVA Air (which respectively belong to the SkyTeam and Star Alliance groups).

China Airlines already connects Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Taipei, while EVA Air also has direct Brisbane-Taipei flights.

Also read: Will Starlux join the Oneworld alliance?