STARLUX Airlines is a full-service airline based in the Taiwan region of China, founded in May 2018 with its first flight on 23 January 2020, with its main base at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and IATA two-letter codeJXJX and ICAO code SJX. Its cargo business started late but has grown very fast: in 2026 it took the World Air Cargo Awards title of Asia Cargo Airline of the Year, with cargo volume and revenue both up by more than 50 percent, and it has ordered 10 A350F freighters.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited arranges air freight on STARLUX belly capacity for importers who buy in China and ship to North America. That covers mainland China cargo connected through Macau and Hong Kong to the Taoyuan hub, plus onward distribution on the carrier's long-haul North America routes.
STARLUX Airlines is incorporated as STARLUX Airlines Co., Ltd. It was founded in May 2018 by Chang Kuo-wei, a veteran of the Taiwan airline industry, and began service on 23 January 2020 with three routes launched the same day: Taipei–Macau, Taipei–Da Nang and Taipei–Penang. Chang Kuo-wei is chairman and Glenn Chai is chief executive. The operating hub is Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), with Taichung and Kaohsiung as secondary stations.
Its product positioning is the opposite of a low-cost carrier: the widebodies carry four classes, first, business, premium economy and economy. That has a direct effect on cargo:widebody belly holds are far larger than narrowbody holds and can take LD3 containers and pallets fully built up,so both the cargo types and the per-shipment weights it can handle are much wider.
Cargo started late but the results stand out: in 2026 the carrier received the Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Award as Best Cargo Airline in Asia, with annual cargo volume up about 52% and revenue up 53%. It is also the first carrier in Taiwan to hold all four IATA CEIV certifications. The first A350F freighter is due in mid-2028, with 10 aircraft in place by the end of 2029.
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | STARLUX Airlines (registered entity: STARLUX Airlines Co., Ltd.) |
| English name | STARLUX Airlines Co., Ltd. |
| Country / region | Taiwan region |
| Founded / first flight | Founded May 2018; first flight 23 January 2020 (Taipei–Macau, Taipei–Da Nang, Taipei–Penang) |
| Main operating hub | Taoyuan International Airport TPE; secondary stations Taichung and Kaohsiung |
| Headquarters (registered and office) | 15F, No. 382, Section 6, Nanjing East Road, Taipei |
| Key people | Chairman Chang Kuo-wei; chief executive Glenn Chai |
| Carrier type | Full-service carrier with four classes; passenger and cargo developed in parallel |
| Fleet profile | All-Airbus fleet: A321neo, A330-900neo, A350-900, A350-1000 |
| Freighter status | None in service; 10 A350Fs on order, first delivery expected mid-2028 |
| Cargo credentials | All four IATA CEIV certifications: Pharma, Fresh, Live Animals, Lithium Batteries |
| Official website | www.starlux-airlines.com(main passenger and cargo station),www.starluxcargo.com(cargo station) |
| Customer service phone | +886-2-2791-1199 |
| Airline alliance | Not a member of any global alliance; runs its own network plus interline partnerships |
Used in booking systems, flight numbers such as JX201 and rate lookups. The code was historically used by the defunct Singapore carrier Jett8 Airlines Cargo, so confirm the carrier against the routing and the full name.
Used in flight plans, flight status platforms and operational messages; third-party tracking systems identify the carrier as JX/SJX.
The air-ground call sign, drawn from the imagery behind the brand name. It appears in the carrier call sign table of FAA Order 7340.2.
An air waybill has 11 digits; the first 3189are the carrier prefix and the next 8 the serial number, with the last digit a check digit, so the MAWB reads 189-xxxxxxxx. If the first three digits are not 189, the AWB was not issued by STARLUX Airlines and should be checked with the actual issuer.
| Aircraft type | Fleet in service | Cabin configuration | Belly hold format | Cargo notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A321neo | about 13 aircraft | Two-class cabin about 188 seats |
Bulk hold | Narrowbody; cargo door about 0.89 × 1.22 m, loose loading by hand only,cannot take built-up pallets; suited to small pieces and e-commerce parcels |
| A330-900neo | About 6 aircraft | Two-class cabin about 297 seats |
Widebody cargo hold | takes LD3 containers; belly volume in the order of 130 cubic metres (industry reference), with usable payload per flight in the ten-tonne range |
| A350-900 | About 10 aircraft | Three to four classes about 300 seats |
Widebody cargo hold | Long-haul workhorse; belly volume in the order of 170 cubic metres (industry reference); takes LD3 containers and pallets fully built up |
| A350-1000 | Deliveries from 2026 | Four classes 350 seats |
Widebody cargo hold | New flagship; nonstop range up to 15,600 km; 350 seats in four classes; belly capacity equal to or slightly better than the A350-900 |
| A350F (on order) | 10 aircraft from 2028 | Freighter | Main deck plus belly | First delivery expected mid-2028, all 10 in place by the end of 2029; the carrier then moves from belly-only to full freighter capability |
The A321neo is the backbone of the regional network, flying short sectors to Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. The lower hold is a typical bulk hold loaded piece by piece by hand,with a door measuring about 0.89 × 1.22 m, so it cannot take LD3 containers or hand over pallets.
The implication for shippers is plain: this type suits only small pieces one person can lift. Cargo on full pallets, or any piece over about 1.1 m, has to be broken down for an A321neo, which costs money and adds damage risk.
The A330-900neo and A350-900/1000 are the backbone of the intercontinental and medium-to-long-haul network. Widebody lower holds take LD3 containers and pallets fully built up, the essential difference from a narrowbody:cargo can be built up at the terminal and loaded as complete pallets, which speeds handover, lowers damage rates and lifts single-shipment weights into the tonnes.
The A350 family matters more: it flies the long-haul routes to North America and Europe and carries the high-value cargo brand. STARLUX also uses the fuel efficiency of the A350 fleet to cut carbon per tonne-kilometre and runs electric tow tractors at Taoyuan, a point importers can put in their supply chain reporting when they have to account for carbon.
All five North American stations are operating and carry most of the long-haul cargo; European routes start in August 2026. Planned stations follow the company's public statements and launch dates may shift.
| Cargo type / use case | Fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals, vaccines and temperature-controlled cargo; perishables such as fresh produce and flowers | Strong fit | Holds both CEIV Pharma and CEIV Fresh, runs cold rooms and temperature-controlled handling and has audited transit chains. It is one of the few Asian carriers that can take this cargo to standard. |
| Electronics containing lithium batteries | Suitable | Holds CEIV Lithium Batteries; acceptance scope and packing rules are defined, which makes it more predictable than a general belly carrier. |
| Live animals, racehorses, breeding stock | Suitable | Holds CEIV Live Animals, with ground and onboard handling procedures to match. |
| General cargo and machinery parts for North America | Can be considered | Widebodies take built-up pallets and connect at Taoyuan to the five North American stations, but the mainland-to-Taoyuan sector has to be arranged first, adding about 1 day against a direct flight. |
| Cargo that needs a direct flight and no transhipment | Not suitable | There is no mainland station, so all cargo is connected to Taoyuan first; every extra sector adds time and one more handling risk. |
| Very large volumes, single shipments above 2 tonnes | Not a fit for now | Only belly capacity is available today and the A350F arrives in 2028, so large volumes should still go to a freighter operator. |
The four CEIV certifications are workable, auditable standards covering facilities, staff training, temperature records and exception handling. For pharmaceuticals, perishables and lithium batteries, where a failure cannot be fixed afterwards, the approval usually matters more than the rate.
Volume and revenue both grew about 50%, which shows belly space being absorbed quickly. On popular lanes, North America especially, space has to be locked earlier in peak season.
All four IATA CEIV certifications, covering pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals and lithium batteries, the first carrier in Taiwan to hold the full set.
Five stations in service, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Ontario and Phoenix, with A350 belly space for built-up pallets, all connecting at Taoyuan.
No station, no office and no published cargo agent,a structural gapthat has to be solved by connecting services.
No freighters in service. 10 A350Fs are on order but the first is not due until mid-2028, so freighter capacity cannot be planned as available now.
The STARLUX Cargo App and cargo network platform push status updates proactively, putting visibility ahead of peers.
Commodity, pieces, gross weight, volume, packing, whether batteries are included or temperature control is needed, origin city and required date.
We check whether the pieces fit the hold, whether a connection is needed and whether the connecting time works, then quote.
Space and rates for both the STARLUX sector and the connecting sector are obtained together and compared with a direct option, and the customer decides.
Pickup, export declaration and delivery to the airport are arranged; documents and packing certificates for special cargo are prepared in advance.
The connecting transfer and re-screening are completed, tracking runs against the 189-prefix MAWB, and the job closes when clearance and delivery at destination are done.
Send the commodity, weight, volume, origin city and required date, and Goodhope Freight returns a workable plan the same day, covering whether STARLUX suits the cargo, how many connecting sectors are needed, total transit time and a cost range. Pickup in mainland China, export declaration, connecting arrangements and destination coordination are handled in one place.
Contact Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited Get an air freight plan and quotePrepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes and brand marks mentioned here belong to their respective owners, and our company has no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with the airlines described. The information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a commitment. Space, rates and schedules are subject to actual confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent at the time of booking.