Will Starlux join the Oneworld alliance?

Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines could follow Oman Air, Fiji Airways and Hawaiian Airlines in joining the global Oneworld airline alliance, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary while charting a new era of growth.

Oman Air and Fiji Airways are now both expected to take a seat at the Oneworld table in 2025, and the US$1.9bn takeover of Hawaiian Airlines by Alaska Airlines could pave the way for the Hawaiian carrier to become Oneworld’s third US member in 2026.

As for Starlux, the airline – founded in 2018 by Taiwanese aviation executive and former EVA Air chairman Chang Kuo-wei, scion of one of the island nation's richest families – has repeatedly indicated its desire to join an alliance.

As first reported by Executive Traveller in August 2021, a senior Starlux executive noted “once we have reached a certain level of growth, we will certainly become a member of an alliance to provide more convenience to our passengers.”

And as to which alliance Starlux would join: with local rivals China Airlines and EVA Air respectively belonging to SkyTeam and Star Alliance, Oneworld is the only option.

Earlier this year, Starlux specifically called out its intention to seek membership of the Oneworld alliance.

One significant hurdle might be how Oneworld founding member Cathay Pacific feels about welcoming Starlux into the alliance.

Starlux is effectively a regional rival to Cathay, which enjoys a solid share of traffic in the busy corridor between Hong Kong and Taiwan – and as one of the five founding members of Oneworld, Cathay also holds an all-powerful veto over any new member.

However, Cathay Pacific has indicated it would not seek directly to block Starlux.

“I would let the Oneworld management team evaluate it,” Cathay Pacific Group CEO  Ronald Lam told media – including UK blog Head for Points – on the sidelines of the recent launch of Cathay’s new 777 Aria Suites business class.

“The Oneworld team will make the best recommendation for (the) alliance.” And would Lam and Cathay then accept that recommendation? “Yes,” the CEO affirmed. 

Approached for comment, a Oneworld spokesman told Executive Traveller “as always, we do not comment on rumour or speculation, and should there be any further updates to members, an announcement will be shared in due course.”