Starlux, Taiwan’s newest airline, has grown like a weed recently, with flights throughout East Asia and across the Pacific to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. Currently, much of this rapid growth has been on the shoulders of the airline’s A330-900neo fleet, with 5 currently in operation and a further 6 on order. Together with the A321neo and the A350-900, these aircraft serve as a further connection from Taipei to the world.
Server: Solo
Airline: Starlux Airlines
Aircraft: Airbus A330-900neo
Origin: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Dayuan, Taiwan (TPE)
Destination: New Chitose Airport, Chitose, Japan (CTS)
Flight Number: JX850
Route: RCTP-RJCC
Seat: 8K (Business)
Time En Route: 3 Hours 35 Minutes
Boarding on an unusually overcast day in Taipei
Flaps lowering while the low rumble of the second Trent 7000 spooling up before taxi reverberates through the cabin, abeit not as deep as its larger Trent 800, 900, and 1000 cousins nor the bass roar of the GE90. Still impressive, though, especially for an aircraft type historically considered slightly underpowered for its size.
STARWALKER 850 departing
Turning north near Taipei
The weather’s largely cleared up by the time we reach our cruising altitude
Reaching the coastline of Kyūshū, the southernmost island of mainland Japan, near Nagasaki
Enjoying a light meal over the western mountains of Honshu
Final decent into Hokkaido
Landing at New Chitose Airport, which shares the facilities with Chitose Air Base of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force, host of the 201st and 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons, flying the Boeing F-15J Eagle. Similar to Portland, Jacksonville, and Fresno, when the Eagles scramble for an intercept, all traffic stops. Besides being home to two Eagle squadrons, Chitose Air Base is home to Japanese Air Force One and Japanese Air Force Two, a pair of specially-configured Boeing 777-300ERs used by the Emperor, Prime Minister, and other VIPs.
Parked and getting ready to deplane at the International Terminal