Taiwan's Starlux Airlines inks codeshare partnership with Etihad Airways

Taipei, June 4 (CNA) Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines signed a strategic codeshare agreement with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways during an annual gathering of airlines companies in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The codeshare agreement was signed during the three-day annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Starlux said in a statement Wednesday. The Taiwanese carrier joined the trade association for the world's airlines in December 2023.

"Our partnership with Etihad Airways marks a significant milestone in Starlux Airlines' global expansion, laying the foundation for future European routes," said Starlux Chief Strategy Officer Simon Liu (劉允富) in a press statement released separately by Etihad Wednesday.

Pending regulatory approval on both sides, Starlux said in its statement that the codeshare agreement will allow passengers to book selected Etihad flights through the Taiwanese carrier's website.

The codeshare agreement also covers Etihad's European destinations, such as Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the two companies' mileage programs -- "Cosmile" of Starlux and "Etihad Guest," according to the Taiwanese carrier.

Etihad, one of the three major Middle Eastern carriers, announced earlier a plan to commence daily passenger services between Abu Dhabi (IATA airport code: AUH), the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) on Sept. 2.

"This partnership with Starlux Airlines opens new market opportunities in Northeast Asia, giving our customers access to Japan's key business and leisure destinations through Taipei (Taiwan Taoyuan)," Etihad Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer Arik De said in the Middle Eastern carrier's statement.

When asked about further details regarding the destinations covered in the agreement, a Starlux official in Taipei declined to provide such information Wednesday.

It is the second codeshare agreement the Taiwanese carrier has signed since it began operating passenger flights in 2020, the Starlux official told CNA.

Starlux signed a similar partnership agreement with Alaska Airlines in 2023 but only began placing its "JX" code on Alaska flights linking Seattle and eight U.S. destinations in 2024.

On Monday, Starlux launched new passenger services between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and its fourth U.S. destinations -- Ontario, California -- with four weekly round-trip flights, making it the second Taiwanese carrier serving the destination in Southern California following Taoyuan-based China Airlines.

In addition to Seattle, Ontario, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the United States, Starlux operates mostly short-haul, regional flights between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Hong Kong, Macau and dozens of destinations in Japan and Southeast Asia.

The carrier also flies between Taichung, central Taiwan, to a handful of regional designations, its website showed.