Barely ten weeks after inaugurating Taipei–Prague flights, Taiwan’s boutique long-haul carrier STARLUX Airlines has filed a fourth weekly frequency on the route, effective 1 October 2026. According to spokeswoman Walter Liang, the stronger schedule will run at least until 24 October, after which the airline will decide whether to keep the extra rotation during the winter season. The step comes as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and its suppliers ramp up construction of a €10 billion chip fab in Dresden—just two hours by motorway from the Czech capital. STARLUX chief executive Glenn Chai told Czech officials at the August launch that corporate demand from the cross-border “Silicon Saxony” cluster underpinned the decision to choose Prague as the carrier’s first European gateway. The additional flight gives the Czech market a rare one-stop connection to Taipei every other day and improves onward connectivity to Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippine tech hubs served by STARLUX’s A350 fleet. Travel-management companies say the move is already changing booking patterns: companies previously forced to route engineers through Frankfurt or Istanbul now have a same-airline option with 46-hour advance cargo acceptance—valuable for transporting high-value chips and tooling. Beyond Europe, STARLUX confirmed it will raise Phoenix and Ontario (California) services from four to five weekly flights on 1 December and is evaluating Dallas, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Although fuel-price volatility remains a risk, analysts note that STARLUX’s decision validates Prague Airport’s strategy of courting Asian premium carriers as Lufthansa Group tightens its grip on trans-Atlantic traffic. For multinational employers in Czechia the development widens direct-flight choices for short-notice technical interventions and cements Prague’s position as a viable alternative to Vienna for long-haul itineraries. Mobility tip: HR teams should update travel policies to include STARLUX’s favourable through-check baggage rules and consider corporate-contract negotiations before the winter timetable is finalised in late October.
Source: EconoTimes
