Starlux Airlines plans to add nonstop flights from Taipei Taoyuan to Zurich and Barcelona as part of its next phase of long-haul expansion toward Europe, Australia–New Zealand and North America. The projects were outlined by chairman Chang Kuo-wei during the airline’s annual general meeting on 29 May 2026.
Applications to serve Zurich and Barcelona have been filed with the relevant authorities. The routes are presented as the next European destinations after Prague, where Starlux will open service on 1 August 2026. Entry into service for Zurich and Barcelona is described as planned for next year or during 2027, with no confirmed launch date, schedule or frequency.
The new services would join additional planned routes to Busan and Bali/Denpasar before the end of 2026, illustrating a broader build-up of the network in Northeast and Southeast Asia. On long-haul markets, Starlux is preparing routes to Sydney, with Auckland considered as an extension, and is evaluating further US destinations including Chicago, Washington, New York and Dallas.
The long-haul expansion will rely on the carrier’s Airbus A350 fleet. Starlux has ordered 10 A350 freighters and previously agreed to acquire 10 additional A350-1000s to support both passenger growth and cargo development. No details have been disclosed on aircraft allocation, cabin layout, cargo share or expected traffic and profitability for the planned Zurich and Barcelona routes.