TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Starlux Airlines announced Monday it will launch direct flights from Taipei and Taichung to Busan starting June 1, marking the carrier’s first routes to South Korea.

According to Taiwan’s Tourism Administration, 18.944 million outbound trips were made in 2025. Japan was the top destination, followed by China and South Korea, per UDN.

In a press release, Starlux said it will introduce two Busan routes as part of its expansion into the South Korean tourism market and broader regional network. With the new service, Starlux will become the first Taiwanese airline to operate direct flights between Taichung and Busan. Tickets for the new routes will go on sale Feb. 25.

Starlux CEO Chai Chien-hua (翟健華) said the launch marks the airline’s official entry into the South Korean market. He said the simultaneous rollout of Taipei–Busan and Taichung–Busan routes makes Starlux the first Taiwan-based carrier to offer direct flights from Taichung to the southern South Korean city.

Chai said the new services strengthen connectivity between northern and central Taiwan and address the inconvenience previously faced by Taichung travelers, who often had to travel north for international flights or make transfers. He said the move reflects the airline’s long-term commitment to developing the central Taiwan market.

Starlux’s network spans 31 cities and 37 routes across Asia and North America. In North America, it serves Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Phoenix. In Asia, destinations include major cities in Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and Macau.