Taipei-based Starlux Airlines will launch a Taipei (Taoyuan)-Chiang Mai route starting 18 January.
The carrier will initially operate the service three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but eventually plans to go to the capital of Northern Thailand daily.
Starlux will operate its new-technology Airbus A321 neo aircraft on Taipei-Chiang Mai, a flight of four hours and 20 minutes.
The Starlux A321 neos come in a dual-class configuration, with eight lie-flat business class seats in a 2-2 layout and 180 economy class seats in a 3-3 set-up.
Taipei-Chiang Mai is a busier route than many might think.
Other Taiwanese carrier EVA Air flies to Chiang Mai daily with A321 aircraft, while Taiwanese flag carrier CAL deploys its A321 neo aircraft on the route four times a week in the winter schedule to 30 March.
Starlux commenced operations in 2020.
The airline has since grown its fleet to 20 aircraft, all brand-new, currently including 13 A321 neos and four widebody A330 neos for its regional network, as well as currently three long-haul A350-900s.
Starlux has many more aircraft on order, especially more A350s, as it plots new services from Taiwan to the US, including to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.
