A Historic Milestone at the Aviation Industry’s ‘Oscars’
A memorable moment was witnessed at the 2025 SKYTRAX World Airline Awards on June 17, as STARLUX Airlines was officially recognized as a 5-Star Airline, joining an elite group of only 11 airlines worldwide to have achieved this prestigious standard.
The SKYTRAX awards are one of the oldest and most respected in the industry, often referred to as the ‘Oscars of aviation’ due to their scale and stringent evaluation criteria.
At this year’s ceremony, STARLUX Airlines surprised everyone by setting a new record. It became the fastest airline to attain the 5-star rating in the history of aviation, accomplishing this feat within just 5 years of commencing commercial operations.
As of 2025, only 11 airlines globally have been bestowed with the 5-star rating by SKYTRAX – an exclusive ‘hall of fame’ that STARLUX Airlines has entered in a remarkably short time.
SKYTRAX is renowned worldwide as the leading independent airline rating organization based in the UK. They conduct rigorous assessments through passenger surveys and on-site audits, evaluating airlines against hundreds of criteria grouped into two main categories: Product Quality and Service Quality.
This year’s SKYTRAX awards attracted over 22 million votes from customers worldwide, with more than 325 airlines being assessed.
Additionally, STARLUX made another remarkable achievement by winning the ‘World’s Most Improved Airline’ award. This ‘double’ award is a testament to the remarkable strides the airline has made in enhancing its service quality, technology, and flight experience, solidifying its position as a leading international airline from Taiwan.
A 5-Year Journey to the 5-Star Airline Title
Despite being a young airline with just 5 years of operations, STARLUX Airlines has made remarkable strides and quickly established its unique identity with the philosophy of ‘Luxury Beyond Horizons.’ This philosophy embodies the pursuit of extraordinary luxury, creating truly distinct flight experiences. At STARLUX, every passenger is treated like a star throughout their journey. This is evident in the consistent quality of service across all four cabin classes: First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy – an accomplishment that very few airlines worldwide can match.
The airline also boasts a modern and uniform fleet, including the latest aircraft models such as the A321neo, A330neo, and A350-900. Its business class offering is renowned among discerning travelers for providing superlative experiences beyond the conventional boundaries of air travel. This includes Michelin-standard cuisine crafted by celebrated chefs and restaurants, and the Galactic Lounge, designed to resemble the Milky Way galaxy, offering a truly unique pre-flight experience.
“The 5-Star Airline title from SKYTRAX is not just a prestigious recognition but also a testament to STARLUX Airlines’ long-term commitment to pursuing the highest standards and paying attention to the tiniest details in our passengers’ flight experiences,” said a spokesperson for the airline. “Every flight with STARLUX is intended to be a memorable and enjoyable part of our passengers’ journeys – this is the guiding principle behind everything we do.”
Currently, STARLUX operates daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc to Taipei, connecting passengers from Vietnam to its extensive network of 29 routes, including the USA, Japan, Macau, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Notably, passengers can conveniently connect from Taipei to North America via Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ontario, Seattle, and soon Phoenix (Arizona) in 2026.
STARLUX Airlines, Taiwan’s 5-star airline, stands out with its modern fleet and internationally acclaimed services. Its business class has been likened to an ‘on-air retreat,’ offering unparalleled comforts: fully lie-flat seats with zero-gravity mode, crisp 24-inch 4K entertainment screens, wireless charging, Michelin-standard cuisine crafted by renowned chefs and restaurants, and the Galactic Lounge, a pre-flight sanctuary inspired by the Milky Way galaxy, ensuring an extraordinary journey from the ground up.
