StarFlyer will resume operations on its Kitakyushu–Taipei/Taoyuan route on September 2, operating three weekly round trips. This marks the route’s return approximately six and a half years after service was suspended in March 2020.
On October 28, 2018, StarFlyer launched two routes connecting Kitakyushu and Nagoya/Chubu with Taipei/Taoyuan. Both routes were operated once daily, but service was suspended from March 11, 2020, due to the spread of COVID-19.
Following the resumption, flight 7G801 from Kitakyushu will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while flight 7G800 from Taipei/Taoyuan will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, for a total of three weekly round trips. Flight 7G801 will depart Kitakyushu at 11:40 p.m. and arrive in Taipei/Taoyuan at 1:10 a.m. the following day. Flight 7G800 will depart Taipei/Taoyuan at 3:00 a.m. and arrive in Kitakyushu at 6:20 a.m., operating on an overnight and early-morning schedule.
At a commemorative ceremony held at Kitakyushu Airport, StarFlyer President Osamu Machida explained the overnight and early-morning schedule: “We will operate during the late-night and early-morning hours by leveraging the advantage of connecting two 24-hour airports, Kitakyushu Airport and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. This allows passengers to make effective use of their time at their destination, offering a high level of convenience for both tourism and business.” While the departure time may be somewhat late for travelers departing Japan, he indicated that the schedule is highly convenient for passengers in Taiwan.
Looking ahead, the company’s top priority is to establish the Kitakyushu–Taipei/Taoyuan route. Machida said, “We do not intend to stop at three weekly flights,” indicating that the airline aims to eventually operate the route daily while assessing demand growth.
In its medium-term management strategy for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, formulated in April, StarFlyer positions international services as one of its growth pillars. Using the resumption of the Kitakyushu–Taipei/Taoyuan route as a foothold, the airline plans to expand its international network to as many as four routes in East Asia by fiscal 2028. From fiscal 2029 onward, it aims to further expand its route network to include Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, regarding the resumption of the Nagoya/Chubu–Taipei/Taoyuan route, the company indicated that it will concentrate its management resources on the Kitakyushu route for the time being. Machida expressed hopes for stimulating demand in both directions, not only by capturing inbound demand from Taiwan, but also by encouraging travelers from Kitakyushu and surrounding areas to enjoy trips to Taiwan.
