Taipei: Taiwan's Starlux Airlines has recruited its first-ever Vietnamese cabin crew to help enhance the service level for Vietnamese travelers and attract more transit passengers flying between Vietnam and North America. The move comes as part of the airline's strategy to tap into the growing market of Vietnamese travelers and the sizable Vietnamese community in North America.

According to Focus Taiwan, the airline received nearly 700 applications for 150 positions across two recruitment sessions-one held in Hanoi and the other earlier in Ho Chi Minh City. During the recruitment process, candidates were assessed on their language proficiency, grooming, and in-flight response capabilities, as stated by Starlux.

Currently, Starlux operates the most routes to Vietnam among Taiwanese airlines, covering destinations such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc Island. Chang Wei-shun, general manager of Starlux's Vietnam office, explained that this expansion aligns with the airline's growth plans. With three existing North American routes and a new Taipei-Ontario, California route set to launch in June, Starlux sees significant potential in the nearly 2-million-strong Vietnamese community in North America.

Other Taiwanese carriers, including China Airlines and EVA Air, have also recently launched recruitment drives for Vietnamese flight attendants, highlighting the increasing importance of the Vietnamese market in the airline industry.