Taipei:Starlux Airlines, Taiwan's newest international carrier, announced that its sales in September rose by nearly 70 percent compared to the previous year, driven by strong demand for both passenger travel and cargo shipments, particularly technology devices during the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) surge.

According to Focus Taiwan, the airline reported NT$4.98 billion (US$155.31 million) in consolidated sales for September, marking a 69 percent increase from the same period last year. Passenger revenue for the month surged by 70 percent, while cargo revenue increased by 59 percent to NT$706 million.

For the first nine months of the year, Starlux's consolidated sales reached NT$44.84 billion, reflecting a 37 percent rise from the previous year. The airline is optimistic about its cargo business for the fourth quarter, traditionally a peak season for international trade, anticipating increased demand for AI servers, semiconductor equipment, and electronic components, along with year-end shopping activities.

Starlux also expects continued growth in its passenger business following the introduction of new routes in October, including Taipei-Bali, Taichung-Sapporo, and Taichung-Nagoya. With the delivery of new aircraft, the airline plans to increase flights and use larger planes in its winter schedule, deploying A330neos on the Taipei-Hakodate and Taipei-Chiang Mai routes, and A350-1000s on the Taipei-Los Angeles and Taipei-San Francisco routes later this quarter.

In related news, Taiwan's other major international carriers also posted strong sales in September. China Airlines (CAL) achieved a record for the month with consolidated sales of NT$20.93 billion, a 31.86 percent increase from a year earlier, while EVA Airways reported NT$20.75 billion in consolidated sales, marking a 32.86 percent rise. Both companies cited robust passenger demand during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday and global demand for AI servers and consumer electronics as contributing factors.

Tigerair Taiwan, the nation's only low-cost carrier, reported a 36 percent rise in revenue to NT$1.74 billion for September, with an average load factor exceeding 90 percent. Its nine-month consolidated sales totaled NT$15.62 billion, up 24 percent year-on-year.