Taipei, Dec. 17 (CNA) Taiwan-based startup carrier Starlux Airlines operated its first commercial flight between Taoyuan and San Francisco on Saturday, providing another option for passengers traveling to and from North America, in addition to its Los Angeles route.
In a statement issued Sunday, Starlux Airlines CEO Chai Chien-hua (翟建華) said the flight to San Francisco, its second destination in the United States, targets passengers traveling between major cities in North America and Asia.
The airline will continue expanding its service network with plans to launch flights to Chiang Mai, Thailand on Jan. 18, 2024, and it will also begin offering flights from the central Taiwanese city of Taichung in the second quarter of next year, according to Chai.
In the second half of 2024, there are also plans to launch a new trans-Pacific route to Seattle, Chai added.
According to Starlux, a total of 274 passengers traveling on the inaugural flight to San Francisco on Saturday were accompanied by beloved comic characters including "SNOOPY" and Charlie Brown dressed up as cabin crew.
Passengers also received a luggage tag featuring the comic characters as a gift.
The route will operate on the Airbus A350 and will depart from Taoyuan every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 11:30 p.m. and arrive at San Francisco at 6:15 p.m. (local time) the same day, according to Starlux. The flight time is approximately 11 hours and Taiwan is 15 hours ahead of San Francisco.
The service will operate daily starting March 20 next year, it added.
Airbus' A350 has a total of 306 seats; four in first class, 26 in business class, 36 in premium economy, and 240 in economy, according to the carrier.
