Taipei: Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international airline, announced that it will issue year-end bonuses equivalent to one month’s salary, a reduction from the two months given last year, as a result of declining income.
According to Focus Taiwan, Starlux Airlines reported a loss per share of NT$0.15 (US$0.005) in the third quarter, a stark contrast to the NT$0.25 earnings per share recorded during the same period last year. The company previously attributed this decline to concerns over a Japanese manga’s prediction of a deadly earthquake in Japan on July 5, as well as U.S. tariff policies. For the first nine months of 2025, the airline posted an earnings per share of NT$0.16, a decrease from NT$0.64 in the previous year.
Despite the downturn in profits, Starlux Airlines has committed to raising employee wages by approximately 3 percent on average. The airline plans to continue expanding its global flight network, improving operations, and boosting profitability to allow employees to share in the company’s success. Currently, Starlux operates 35 routes with a fleet of 29 aircraft and plans to add 14 new planes starting in 2026 as part of its long-term growth strategy.
In contrast, industry sources suggest that EVA Airways is expected to issue year-end bonuses equivalent to 6.5 months of salaries following an EPS of NT$3.43 for the first nine months of this year. However, EVA Air, which provided 7 months’ worth of salaries as bonuses last year, has not yet confirmed this year’s figure. Other airlines, such as China Airlines and budget carrier Tigerair Taiwan, which offered 6.6 and 12.8 months’ worth of salaries as bonuses last year respectively, have yet to finalize their numbers for this year.
