STARLUX Airlines adds Seattle as its third North American destination
STARLUX Airlines’ inaugural flight from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) received a traditional water-cannon salute as it taxied to the gate
STARLUX Airlines added Seattle as its third North American destination on Aug. 16, 2024, following Los Angeles and San Francisco, which saw service starts in 2023.
The fledgling Taiwan-based airline was launched in 2018, with its first services from Taipei to Macau, Penang, and Da Nang having started in 2020. The carrier positions itself as a luxury airline, with four service classes on each of its 23 aircraft. STARLUX’s Airbus 350-900s feature 306 seats, spread across four cabins: four first-class suites, 26 business-class pods, 36 premium economy recliners, and 240 economy seats.
Airline staff waited to greet the inbound plane
SEA has an automated airside docking system
The A-359 approaching the gate
The airline also serves 23 Asian destinations via its all-Airbus fleet of A321neo, A330neo, and A350 aircraft.
Starlux and Alaska Airlines are codeshare partners
Alaska Airlines signed a strategic partnership with STARLUX in 2023, allowing each airline’s loyalty program members to earn points on one another’s flights. The partnership will allow customers of both airlines to book connecting flights on a single ticket.
STARLUX will serve SEA three times a week
The current flight schedule calls for three flights a week, with plans in place to increase the frequency to daily service in early 2025.
Even the cargo containers were shiny and new
The plane is powered by the impressive Rolls Royce XWB
Nosing up to the gate
A fine-looking set of landing gear
It’s always an absolute joy to get rampside access for the arrival of a big jet.
STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai (left) and Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho exchanged welcoming gifts
A welcome ceremony inside the airport’s reception area featured traditional drummers
… and the traditional ribbon cutting
With this new route, SEA now hosts 53 nonstop international services on 27 different airlines. We’re hoping to provide you with more STARLUX coverage in the future.