Taiwan’s Airline Born of Revenge

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]A succession style family feud is the origin of one of the world's fastest growing and most luxurious startup Airlines. This [music] is the story of Starlux, an airline born of revenge.

[00:00:14]At the center of it all is Chang Kuo-wei, also known as K.W. Chang.

[00:00:18][music] He's the youngest son of Evergreen Group founder Chang Yung-fa, the man who built a multi-billion dollar shipping and aviation empire in Taiwan.

[00:00:27]An empire that includes EVA Air. When the founder passed away in 2016, a succession battle erupted inside the family. The fight was between Chang Kuo-wei and his three older half brothers over who would come to control the empire. K.W. was seen as a key figure in the aviation side of the business. But during the internal power struggle, an extraordinary board meeting was called and he was removed from his position as chairman. So in a matter of days, he went from heir apparent to out.

[00:00:57]But K.W. is also a licensed pilot and heavily involved in aviation outside of the boardroom. So instead of staying out, he started his own rival airline, Starlux. It was a new premium carrier with a very clear ambition, to compete at the highest end of global aviation.

[00:01:15]Often compared to luxury airlines in the Middle East and beyond. In the 2026 airline ratings award for best full service airline, Starlux placed fifth globally, six full places ahead of EVA.

[00:01:28]Who do you fly with when you come in and out of Taiwan? Nǐ jiā zhù nǎ?