Starlux opens Taichung base; Asia low-cost carriers expand regional network

Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines will expand operations beyond its main Taipei hub with the launch of flights from the central Taiwanese city of Taichung. In a LinkedIn post on 6 December, the carrier says destinations are likely to be in Northeast and Southeast Asia, with flights commencing in the second quarter of 2024. It did not elaborate further in the post, which also details the opening of its Taichung office – its second office in Taiwan. “Passengers from Northeast and Southeast Asia will now have an additional option to experience the enchanting attractions and culture of Central Taiwan and beyond,” the post reads. Elsewhere in the region, low-cost operators are expanding their networks in line with the year-end travel season. Indonesia AirAsia, for instance, is mounting additional flights across its network between 19 December and 3 January, in conjunction with the Christmas and New Year period. The airline states it will add more than 25,000 seats to cities such as Denpasar, Medan, Surabaya, and internationally to Kuala Lumpur. The Jakarta-based unit of AirAsia Aviation also hints at adding new international routes in the new year.<br/>