The airline company Starlux has achieved its goal and established its subsidiary in Spain, specifically at Vía Augusta 252 in Barcelona, in the Tres Torres neighborhood. This new headquarters will enable the Taiwanese airline to manage and operate a direct flight between the island and the Catalan capital.
The subsidiary is represented by Chang Kuo Wei, president of Starlux Airlines, who is leading this initial phase of corporate establishment in the country. The direct flight between Barcelona and Taipei is expected to commence operations in 2027, as announced by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, on June 1st.
Barcelona and Zurich are among Starlux's upcoming European destinations, for which the company has already applied for the necessary permits. The airline, less known in Europe, is the smallest of Taiwan's three long-haul carriers, alongside China Airlines and EVA Air. This summer, it began its European operations with the Taipei-Prague route.
The route to Barcelona will be the first regular air connection between Spain and Taiwan, an island territory governed by the Republic of China (ROC) since 1949, distinct from the People's Republic of China. Beijing considers Taiwan part of "one China" and does not rule out the use of force for reunification.
Although Spain does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, it maintains cultural and commercial relations. Geopolitical tension in the region has increased in recent years due to Chinese military pressure on the island.
Locally, this tension has echoed in the Parliament of Catalonia, where Junts has promoted proposals inconvenient for Beijing, such as the recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign democracy. These initiatives have led to formal complaints from the Chinese consulate in Barcelona.
