Taipei, April 26 (CNA) Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines launched its first commercial service between Taiwan and the United States on Wednesday, with the company's chairman at the helm of the inaugural flight to Los Angeles.
At a special ceremony held at Gate D1 in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport that afternoon, Starlux CEO Glenn Chai (翟建華) said the new Taipei-Los Angeles flights open up the transit market for the carrier to fly travelers between North America and regional destinations in Asia.
Starlux plans to further expand its network in North America, by adding a new destination each year, he said.
Civil Aeronautics Administration Director General Lin Kuo-shien (林國顯) said at the ceremony he hopes Starlux can further grow its network and provide convenient flight options to Taiwanese and American travelers, while differentiating itself from other Taiwanese carriers in the market -- China Airlines and EVA Air.
Starlux Chairman Chang Kuo-wei (張國煒), who flew an Airbus A350-900 jet on the inaugural flight, told reporters at the airport the company plans to launch flights to a new destination every six to eight months, and the next one will be San Francisco at the end of this year.
The 306-seat plane, which includes four first class seats, carried nearly 300 passengers on the inaugural flight, the carrier said.
The flight was scheduled to depart Taiwan at 2:10 p.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 11:01 a.m. on Wednesday, local time, according to the carrier.
Starlux is the only Taiwanese airline company that offers first-class seats and the company plans to increase its service on the Taipei-Los Angeles route from five round-trips a week to daily in June, the carrier said.
