Phoenix flights officially connected directly to Asia for the first time, and Mayor Kate Gallego (D-AZ) is celebrating the milestone.
“Last year, I announced STARLUX Airlines' new nonstop flight between Phoenix and Taipei. Today, that vision became reality," Gallego wrote when the first flight landed on Thursday. "This direct flight between Arizona and Asia strengthens our relationship with Taiwan and opens new doors for business and economic growth."
For the first time ever, Arizonans can fly straight to Asia without stopping in other cities. STARLUX Airlines started the new route with flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Additionally, they're adding Saturday flights in March 2026 due to the growing number of people who want to use this service.
Why is Phoenix suddenly connected to Taiwan? The answer is as simple as technology and business.
A major chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), has built massive factories in Arizona, creating thousands of jobs.
Business people need to travel back and forth between Taiwan and Phoenix, and tourists want to visit both places.
In particular, the US has become Taiwan’s largest target for overseas direct investment in recent years, accounting for over 40 percent of our total outbound investment.
"Meanwhile, Taiwan has also become a crucial trading and supply chain partner to the US,” President Lai Ching-te said during the recent meeting with Gallego. “This is not just about a single company engaging in market expansion – as Taiwanese businesses expand their global presence and build up the high-tech and semiconductor industry domains, it is also a highly important symbol of Taiwan-US collaboration.”
Previous efforts show Arizona even opened a special trade office in Taiwan to strengthen ties between the two places. They're working together on technology, artificial intelligence, and training workers for high-tech jobs.
This flight opens up amazing travel opportunities, as residents can leave Phoenix and wake up in Taiwan's capital city, where they can explore cultural activities and significant landmarks.
However, this is about more than just vacation options. As Gallego pointed out, connecting Phoenix directly to Asia shows the world that Arizona is becoming a major player in international business and technology.
For Arizona, the sky really is the limit.
