Revealed: STARLUX Airlines chooses Prague as its first European destination
February 4, 2026
Taiwanese carrier STARLUX Airlines is set to make its European debut with the launch of nonstop services between Taipei and Prague, marking a major milestone in the airline’s young but carefully curated long-haul expansion.
The new route represents the fulfilment of long-held ambitions for STARLUX, which has had Europe firmly in its sights since commencing scheduled passenger operations in January 2020.
With Prague becoming the airline’s first European destination, the move signals not just network growth but the opening of a new chapter as STARLUX positions itself as a premium long-haul player beyond the Asia-Pacific region.
STARLUX to begin first European flights to Prague
On 4 February, it was revealed that STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan will begin operating to Prague in Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic) from the summer of 2026.
The airline is expected to operate the new route three times per week initially, from 1 August, increasing to four services weekly from 1 October. All flights will be operated by the company’s fleet of twin-engined Airbus A350-900s.
The new flights will operate between Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and Prague’s Václav Havel Airport (PRG).
The flight will cover a distance of 5,611 miles (8.978 km) and will take approximately 13 hours and 40 minutes on the westbound leg, while taking around an hour less to return to Taipei. The planned timings of the new services are:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| JX101 | Taipei → Prague | 00:10 | 07:50 |
| JX102 | Prague → Taipei | 10:20 | 05:10 (+1 day) |
The flights will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while the increase in services from 1 October will see the addition of a Monday rotation.
In addition to the direct connection between Prague and Taipei, passengers will be able to take advantage of STARLUX Airlines’ network of onward flights to destinations across Asia, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Tokyo, Singapore, Osaka, Hong Kong and others.
“This decision underscores Prague’s growing appeal as an attractive market in Europe, further strengthening connectivity between Prague, Taipei, and the wider Asian region through STARLUX’s expanding network,” said Jaroslav Filip, the Aviation Business Director for Prague Airport, posting on LinkedIn.
Prague provides a foothold in the European market for STARLUX
While the choice of Prague may come as a surprise to many, the route attracts less competition than those to many of Europe’s major capitals.
With either or both EVA Air and China Airlines already serving London, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam, STARLUX may have found the ideal foothold to enter Europe without having to go head-to-head with one of its Taiwanese counterparts.
Additionally, as the carrier is not yet part of a major airline alliance, connecting traffic in Prague may feature lower on the carrier’s wish list at this point, preferring to ‘soft-launch’ into Europe rather than enter an already saturated market.
According to the Prague Airport’s estimates, the new route is expected to be used by around 95,000 passengers during the first year of operations.
“Prague’s central location makes it a good gateway and will provide efficient onward connectivity to other major Asian hubs, said STARLUX’s Chairman Chang Kuo-wei.
He also explained that Prague is a popular tourist destination for Taiwanese travellers, and that strengthening semiconductor ties between Taiwan and Czechia have boosted demand for both business and leisure travellers for direct air routes between the two countries.
“With Taiwan serving as a convenient hub in Asia, our extensive Asian network will provide seamless connections to major cities across the region, while our all next-generation Airbus fleet delivers a premium, five-senses travel experience,” he added.
STARLUX operates an all-Airbus fleet
Since its inception in 2020, STARLUX has been progressively building its route network and an ultra-modern all-Airbus fleet. Currently, the carrier operates two variants of the twin-aisle Airbus A350, both the -900 variant and the longer A350-1000, the first of which only arrived with the carrier on 6 January.
The A350-900s, of which the carrier currently has ten, operate in a 306 passenger configuration, including four seats in first class, 26 in business class, 36 in premium economy and 240 in economy class.
The single larger A350-1000 currently operated by STARLUX accommodate 340 passengers (four in first class, 40 in business class, 36 in premium economy and 270 in economy class). According to Planespotters.net, the average age of the A350 fleet is just 1.8 years old.
The next phase of STARLUX’s expansion
While the carrier has already built up an extensive intra-Asia route network, its long-haul network has been limited to flights serving North America, with flights to Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), San Francisco (SFO), Phoenix (PHX) and Seattle (SEA).
Previously, STARLUX Airlines said it would take delivery of 14 new aircraft in 2026 (including five more A350-1000s), boosting its total fleet to 43 aircraft.
The airline will also intensify its efforts to expand its global flight network, including two new destinations in Europe – Prague being the first of these to be announced so far.
Featured image: Melvin / Wikimedia Commons
