Alaska Airlines Asks USDOT To Begin STARLUX Codesharing Agreement

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Summary

  • Alaska Airlines and STARLUX Airlines have applied for a codeshare agreement that would cover eight domestic routes in the United States and three international routes from the US to Taiwan.
  • The two carriers have planned to begin the codeshare agreement on August 16, pending approvals from the respective authorities.
  • In April 2023, Alaska Airlines and STARLUX Airlines announced their partnership that has allowed Mileage Plan members to earn and redeem miles on the Taiwanese carrier’s flights from the US to Taiwan.

Alaska Airlines has filed an application to begin a codeshare agreement with Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines. The two airlines currently have a partnership whereupon members of Alaska Airlines loyalty program, Mileage Plan, can earn and redeem miles on the Taiwanese carrier’s flights from the United States to Taiwan.

Codeshare starting on August 16

According to Alaska Airlines’’ application with the Department of Transportation (DOT), Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and SkyWest Airlines, with the latter operating flights on behalf of Alaska Airlines, and STARLUX Airlines have applied for a reciprocal codeshare agreement.

The US-based carrier stated that the airlines plan to begin marketing these codeshare services as soon as they receive the necessary governmental approvals, respectfully requesting that the DOT approve the codeshare application promptly. This would allow Alaska Airlines and STARLUX Airlines to market and sell flights on the proposed codeshare routes without any delay.

Photo: Kent Raney | Shutterstock

Alaska Airlines added that the airline and STARLUX Airlines would apply each others’ flight codes between any point or points in the US and any point or points in Taiwan, between points in the US, beyond the US to any point or points, and beyond Taiwan to any point or points.

“The codesharing described herein will commence on or after August 16, 2024, provided the Joint Applicants have obtained all necessary governmental authorizations.”

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Covering eight domestic and three international routes

The filing detailed that STARLUX Airlines would place its flight codes on eight domestic US routes, all of which originate at Seattle Tacoma International Airpot (SEA). Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines and its affiliates would place their flight codes on the Taiwanese airline’s flights from three airports in the US to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).

Alaska Airlines and STARLUX Airlines codeshare agreement

Photo: Great Circle Mapper

According to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium, the only other codeshare agreement covering routes from the US to TPE was the deal between China Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The two carriers’ codeshare covers flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to TPE, expanding Delta Air Lines’ reach in Asia.

In addition to China Airlines and STARLUX Airlines flying from LAX and SFO, EVA Air operates from LAX and SFO to TPE, while United Airlines has 14 weekly departures from SFO to TPE in June. Meanwhile, only two airlines fly between SEA and TPE: EVA Air and Delta Air Lines. In August, China Airlines will add five weekly departures to the route, continuing to fly between SEA and TPE at least until December 2024, while STARLUX Airlines has previously expressed its intentions to fly the route from August 16. The date would coincide with the planned codeshare agreement with Alaska Airlines.

However, neither carrier has a codeshare on the route, which would give Alaska Airlines and STARLUX Airlines a stronger position on the SEA–TPE itinerary, considering the seamless connections that would be offered by the codeshare agreement. At the same time, unlike China Airlines (five weekly departures), EVA Air (seven weekly departures), and Delta Air Lines (seven weekly departures), STARLUX Airlines plans to offer only three weekly departures on the route.

Current partnership with STARLUX Airlines

Alaska Airlines announced its current partnership with STARLUX Airlines in April 2023. Then, the SEA-based carrier explained that after the Taiwanese carrier launched TPE–LAX services, Mileage Plan members could now earn miles on STARLUX Airlines’ flights on the route and, in addition, fly onward to 16 destinations in Asia.

Alaska Airlines aircraft at SEA

Photo: VDB Photos | Shutterstock

When STARLUX Airlines announced its plans to launch flights from TPE to SEA in March, Alaska Airlines issued a statement, congratulating and welcoming the Taiwanese airline to its home hub. The US airline added that now, Alaska Airlines customers were able to book STARLUX Airlines’ flights from the US west coast to TPE on its website.

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