“So this connection will open up more choice for travellers while creating another link into Asia,” said Tasker of a new Starlux Airlines route connecting New Taipei and Auckland via Sydney, NZ Herald reported.
Starlux plans to launch the service four times a week starting on March 23, before scaling the frequency to daily flights by May 1, according to airline schedules tracked by Aeroroutes.
Flight JX183 will depart Taipei Taoyuan at 8.50pm, arrive in Sydney at 8.10am, and touch down in Auckland at 4.10pm in local times. The return journey, JX184, will leave Auckland at 5.30pm, stop in Sydney at 7.05pm, and arrive back in Taipei at 4.05am.
The operational schedule points to a quick turnaround style similar to China Eastern’s Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires route, where ground crews clean and refuel the aircraft before it continues its journey.
Tasker said that the new route improves cargo logistics alongside passenger travel. “Taiwan is already New Zealand’s largest market for air-freighted cherries, and the A330-900neo planned for the route has bellyhold capacity to carry high-value exports alongside passengers,” Tasker said.
The airline relies exclusively on an all-Airbus fleet. The planned aircraft for this trans-Tasman and Asian link is the Airbus A330neo, an updated version of the twinjet family that originally entered commercial service during the 1990s.
Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo model reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent compared to older generation aircraft, according to Airbus statements.
| Route Detail | Flight Number | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei to Auckland (via Sydney) | JX183 | 8.50pm (Taipei) | 4.10pm (Auckland) |
| Auckland to Taipei (via Sydney) | JX184 | 5.30pm (Auckland) | 4.05am (Taipei) |
John Weekes is a business journalist covering aviation. He also has experience covering courts, consumer affairs, crime and politics.
