STARLUX Airlines touches down at Sky Harbor for its first direct flight from Taipei to Phoenix 

Published: 01/20/2026
Updated: 02/11/2026

Taipei-based STARLUX Airlines adds to Greater Phoenix’s repertoire of direct international connections

PHOENIX (Jan. 20, 2026) — Drivers and pedestrians in Greater Phoenix have likely seen the billboards and the signs: a golden sky and bustling city, the promise of travel and adventure to an energetic international destination.

The much-anticipated moment is here, as on Friday, the first direct flight from Taipei to Phoenix via STARLUX landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) President & CEO Christine Mackay and VP Sean Fogarty were on the inaugural flight, returning home from a business trip in Taiwan.

“Flying across the Pacific has never been this easy,” Mackay said. “We’re excited to see how the comfort and ease of this trip will pave the way for business and leisure travelers alike to experience the opportunities between Greater Phoenix and Taipei.”

The two destinations have been closely linked since the initial announcement of TSMC’s expansion into Phoenix, which since has ballooned into $165 billion, the largest foreign direct investment in the United States. With dozens of semiconductor suppliers building out the local supply chain, cross-country trips between leadership, and the memorandum of understanding called the Taiwan-Phoenix Strategic Technology signed by Startup Island TAIWAN, Industrial Technology Research Institute, the city of Phoenix, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), and Arizona-based TesoroVC this week, the two major tech markets are linking closer than ever before.

STARLUX joins a growing group of global airlines with a home in Greater Phoenix. Sky Harbor offers direct flights to 26 international destinations, including London, Mexico City, Paris, Toronto and Vancouver, in addition to Taipei.

About the Greater Phoenix Economic Council

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), globally recognized as a top economic development organization (EDO), works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. A data-driven regional EDO, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa and Pinal counties and more than 200 private investors to accomplish its mission and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate to Greater Phoenix. Over the past 36 years, GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping over 1,075 companies, creating more than 195,000 jobs and more than $76.5 billion in capital investment. Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial-focused companies looking to thrive and scale in a vibrant, dynamic region. There is an undeniable spirit about Greater Phoenix; one rooted in strength, collaboration and resilience. Greater Phoenix is Greater Together. For more information about GPEC and how we can assist your businesses, visit www.gpec.org.

Photo credit: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport