Starlux named Skytrax 5-Star Airline after 5 years of launch

Taipei, June 18 (CNA) Taiwan's Starlux Airlines has been certified as a 5-Star Airline and named the World's Most Improved Airline by Skytrax, a United Kingdom-based airline rating agency, five years after it launched operations.

The 5-star recognition, announced Tuesday at the 2025 World Airline Awards in Paris, acknowledges Starlux's outstanding passenger experience, cabin quality, and onboard service, the airline said in a press release.

Starlux's title as the World's Most Improved Airline is given to the carrier demonstrating the greatest progress across all performance categories, according to Skytrax.

"It shows what we've achieved in just five years with the dedication of our team and the trust of our passengers," said Starlux CEO Glenn Chai (翟健華), who accepted the awards in Paris.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said the 5-star rating reflects Starlux's "focus on delivering a high-quality passenger experience," especially in cabin comfort and catering, "with a very accomplished service delivery onboard each flight."

Only 11 airlines globally received the 5-star certification this year, including Taiwan-based EVA Air, which has been given five stars to 10 years in a row.

EVA Air also ranked first in two categories, Best Economy Class Airline Catering and World's Cleanest Airline, and third in Best Premium Economy Class Onboard Catering, Best Business Class Airline Comfort Amenities, and World's Best Airport Services.

Taiwan's flagship carrier China Airlines was certified as a 4-Star Airline this year, according to Skytrax.

Starlux, which launched operations in 2020, made its debut on Skytrax's "World's Top 100 Airlines" list in 2023, ranking No. 39 globally.

Starlux currently flies to 29 destinations across Asia and North America, including four U.S. cities -- Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Ontario, California.

It plans to launch direct flights to Phoenix in February 2026, becoming the first carrier to connect Arizona with Asia.