Phoenix gets its 1st nonstop flight to Asia. Here's where you can go

As Phoenix marks one year since the start of its first flight to Paris, the city is celebrating a new milestone in international air travel.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is finally getting its first nonstop route to Asia.

Starlux Airlines will begin flying nonstop between Phoenix and Taipei, Taiwan, starting in February 2026, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said Tuesday, May 20, in her 2025 State of the City address.

Travel between Phoenix and Taipei "increased fivefold" in the last five years, attributed to the growth in metro Phoenix's semiconductor manufacturing industry, anchored by the massive Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing plant in north Phoenix, Gallego said.

Starlux Airlines will begin flying nonstop flights between Phoenix and Taipei aboard an Airbus A350-900 jet, which seats 306 passengers.

When the route launches, Phoenix will become the fifth U.S. city to offer nonstop Starlux flights to Taipei. Starlux flies there from Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with service from Ontario, California, scheduled to begin June 2.

When will Phoenix to Taipei flights begin?

Starlux Airlines’ new nonstop flights between Phoenix and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei will begin in February 2026. A specific date has not been announced.

The flights will run three times weekly aboard an Airbus A350-900. Starlux’s A350-900 jets can seat 306 passengers, including four in first class, 26 in business class and 36 in premium economy.

Starlux, founded in 2018, sees "strong potential" in Phoenix because of its growing business and leisure markets. A statement from the airline said Phoenix has "emerged as a hub for high-tech and innovation-driven industries, supported by a vibrant ecosystem that continues to attract leading technology companies."

Sky Harbor expects the new route to have an economic impact of more than $100 million.

Where can you fly to from Taiwan?

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, one of two airports in Taipei and the one that handles most international flights, offers an abundance of connections to airports in Asia.

Starlux connects to more than 20 Asian cities from Taiwan Taoyuan Airport, including Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore.

How much do Phoenix-Taipei flights cost?

Nonstop Phoenix-Taipei flights were not yet available for sale on Starlux's website as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 20.

But flights from Phoenix with a layover, as well as nonstops from Los Angeles and Seattle, start around $800 to $900 round-trip when booking an economy ticket at the lowest-priced Saving tier.

Starlux and Phoenix officials said the nonstop Phoenix-Taipei flights will go on sale after final government approvals. They did not say how soon that might happen.

What other international flights does Phoenix have?

Sky Harbor has three other international routes.

Two airlines fly nonstop between Phoenix and London: seasonal flights via American Airlines and year-round flights via British Airways.

Air France flies nonstop to Paris, a route that was established in May 2024 and was recently expanded from three times weekly to five times weekly.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Arizona Republic reporter Shawn Raymundo contributed to this article.

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at [email protected].