TAIPEI — Taiwan’s STARLUX Airlines is taking a major step deeper into the U.S. market after launching a new codeshare partnership with American Airlines, giving passengers a single-ticket route from Taipei to 20 additional cities across the United States.
The partnership, announced September 23, links STARLUX’s growing transpacific network with American Airlines’ extensive domestic network through Los Angeles and Phoenix. Codeshare tickets are now available, with the first flights under the new arrangement scheduled to begin September 30.
For travelers, the change could significantly simplify connections between Taiwan and cities beyond STARLUX’s own nonstop network.
20 U.S. cities now within reach
The initial codeshare network covers destinations including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Charlotte and Orlando, among others.
STARLUX says the arrangement initially covers 20 U.S. destinations, with more connecting opportunities expected as the partnership expands.
The routes are divided between the two U.S. gateways:
- Via Phoenix: Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, El Paso, Kansas City, San Antonio, San Diego, St. Louis, Tucson and Washington, D.C.
- Via Los Angeles: New York-JFK and Miami
- Via Los Angeles and Phoenix: Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago O’Hare and Philadelphia.
The expanded network gives STARLUX passengers access to destinations well beyond the airline’s own nonstop routes.
One ticket, checked-through baggage
One of the biggest changes for passengers is the ability to book eligible connecting journeys on a single itinerary.
STARLUX says travelers can also have baggage checked through to their final destination, subject to applicable customs and airport procedures.
That means a passenger flying STARLUX from Taipei into the United States can connect to an American Airlines domestic flight without having to arrange separate tickets for the onward journey.
American Airlines describes codeshare arrangements as partnerships that allow customers to book trips involving both airlines under a single reservation, making connections and ticketing easier.
The partnership goes beyond the first 20 cities
The new codeshare builds on an interline agreement established in 2025 between the two airlines.
The codeshare takes that relationship a step further by allowing one airline’s flight number to be marketed on eligible flights operated by the other carrier.
The companies also say they are preparing a reciprocal frequent-flyer arrangement, which would allow eligible members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem miles on qualifying codeshare flights. The mileage component is still being prepared and is not yet the same as the newly launched codeshare itself.
STARLUX is expanding its U.S. footprint
The agreement comes as STARLUX continues building its North American network.
The Taiwanese carrier launched its Phoenix-Taipei service earlier in 2026, strengthening its presence in the U.S. Southwest. The airline has also been expanding its network from Taiwan toward major American gateways.
The American partnership gives those long-haul flights a much larger pool of onward destinations.
Instead of relying entirely on STARLUX’s own aircraft and routes to reach U.S. cities, the airline can now use American’s domestic network to connect passengers deeper into the country.
American gains another Asia connection
The arrangement also works in the opposite direction.
American Airlines passengers can use STARLUX flights through Taipei to reach destinations elsewhere in Asia, giving American another way to connect its U.S. network with the Taiwanese carrier’s Asian network.
STARLUX currently serves destinations across markets including Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and Europe, making Taipei an additional transfer point for travelers continuing beyond Taiwan.
American’s senior vice president of global alliances, Anmol Bhargava, said the partnership is intended to create additional travel options and competitive itineraries for customers.
STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai likewise described the agreement as an important milestone for the airline as it expands its international network.
A bigger battle for Asia-U.S. travelers
The codeshare arrives as Asian airlines continue expanding their North American networks and partnerships.
For STARLUX, the strategy provides a way to expand its U.S. reach without needing to immediately launch nonstop flights to every major American market.
For American Airlines, the agreement adds another Taiwanese airline connection to its international network and creates additional options for passengers traveling between North America and Asia.
Aviation-industry publication CAPA noted that the partnership follows the airlines’ earlier interline relationship and comes alongside STARLUX’s broader efforts to increase its North American connectivity.
What changes for passengers?
The immediate impact is straightforward: travelers booking eligible STARLUX-American itineraries can access 20 additional U.S. cities through a coordinated booking, with through-checked baggage available under the partnership’s applicable procedures.
More destinations may follow as the cooperation expands.
The frequent-flyer partnership could also become significant once implemented, but the airlines have not yet announced when reciprocal mileage earning and redemption will begin.
For STARLUX, however, the message is already clear: its Taiwan-U.S. network is no longer being built solely around where its own aircraft fly.
With American Airlines providing the domestic connections, Taipei could become an increasingly important bridge between Taiwan and a much larger slice of the U.S. market.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
