STARLUX Airlines Inaugurates Airbus A350 Service to Ontario, California
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Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines has officially launched nonstop service between Taipei (TPE) and Ontario International Airport (ONT), marking a major step forward in the airline’s U.S. expansion and the first regularly scheduled A350 service at the Southern California airport.
A New Chapter in West Coast Connectivity
On Monday, STARLUX Airlines commenced four-times-weekly service from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to Ontario International Airport (ONT) using its flagship Airbus A350-900. The inaugural flight, JX10, departed Taipei at 20:30 local time and arrived at ONT at 17:00 following an 11-hour and 40-minute journey. Upon arrival, the aircraft was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute before taxiing to the west remote apron for disembarkation.
The launch represents STARLUX’s fourth U.S. destination, joining Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA). The service also positions STARLUX as the second Taiwanese carrier to operate the route, alongside China Airlines, which has served TPE–ONT since 2018 using the Boeing 777-300ER.
“Ontario’s strategic location within the Greater Los Angeles area positions us to better connect the diverse communities of Southern California to and from Asia in luxury and comfort,” said Walter Liang, STARLUX Chief Passenger Commercial Officer.
Operational Details & Terminal Footprint
Unlike China Airlines, which utilizes remote stands for customs clearance, STARLUX will operate out of Terminal 4 at ONT—home to oneworld partner American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. STARLUX’s U.S. partner Alaska Airlines, which it launched a codeshare agreement with in 2023, operates from adjacent Terminal 2. The relationship enables STARLUX to offer deeper domestic connectivity across North America.
“We are blessed with some fantastic international partners, and STARLUX is just an amazing group to work with,” said Benjamin Brookman, Managing Director of Airport Real Estate at Alaska Airlines. “We’ve supported each other’s growth up and down the West Coast.”
Flight Schedule
The new TPE–ONT route operates four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with return service operating as JX9:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JX10 | TPE → ONT | 20:05 | 17:05 | 12h 00m | A350-900 |
| JX9 | ONT → TPE | 23:05 | 04:15 (+2 days) | 14h 10m | A350-900 |
With this new addition, STARLUX now offers 14 weekly U.S. flights across its two Southern California gateways—ONT and LAX—providing greater flexibility and options for travelers to and from Taiwan.
Onboard Product: A Premium Experience
STARLUX’s Airbus A350-900s are configured with 302 seats across four distinct cabin classes:
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First Class: 4 private suites with full lie-flat beds
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Business Class: 26 lie-flat seats
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Premium Economy: 36 recliner seats in a 2-4-2 layout
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Economy Class: 240 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration
The aircraft features mood lighting, digital art panels, and high-resolution inflight entertainment screens at every seat. The inflight experience reflects STARLUX’s reputation for offering one of the most luxurious products among East Asian carriers.
Ontario’s Record Growth & Strategic Positioning
Ontario (ONT) is among the fastest-growing airports in Southern California. From January to July 2024, the airport handled nearly four million passengers, a 14% increase year-over-year. International traffic surged 23% in that period, with 270,000 international travelers passing through.
The addition of STARLUX’s A350 service is expected to further elevate ONT’s international profile, particularly in support of growing demand from the Taiwanese diaspora and the broader Asian-American communities of Inland Empire and greater Los Angeles.
What’s Next for STARLUX
In addition to current routes to LAX, SFO, SEA, and now ONT, STARLUX plans to launch service to Phoenix (PHX) in early 2026, which would represent Arizona’s first nonstop link to Asia.
With aggressive U.S. expansion, a growing partnership with Alaska Airlines, and a focus on high-premium service, STARLUX is positioning itself as Taiwan’s boutique international carrier of choice.
