K.W. Chang, STARLUX & EVA Air: Complete Guide [2026]

Last Updated on July 2, 2026 by Daniel Globe

K.W. Chang is the youngest son of Evergreen Group founder Chang Yung-fa and the founder of STARLUX Airlines. He studied in the U.S., rose to chairman of EVA Air in 2013, and was pushed out in 2016 amid a family succession dispute. He then launched STARLUX in 2020 as a premium, tech-forward carrier, which completed its Taiwan Stock Exchange IPO in October 2024 and now flies to five U.S. cities. There’s more to his story, including the 2024 court ruling that settled his inheritance.

Who Is K.W. Chang?

K.W. Chang is the youngest son of Chang Yung-fa, founder of Evergreen Group</strong, and was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on September 6, 1970, to Chang Yung-fa and his second wife, Lee Yu-mei. He studied in the United States, earning a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California. He built a career within EVA Air, rising to chairman in 2013, before being ousted in 2016 during a bitter family succession dispute. He went on to found Starlux Airlines in 2018 and launched its first flights in January 2020. Today he holds roughly a 64% stake in the carrier, which listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in October 2024 and has grown into Taiwan’s third-largest international airline by passenger and cargo volume.

How Did K.W. Chang Build His EVA Air Career?

K.W. Chang’s history with EVA Air stretches back roughly two decades before his 2016 ouster. He was first appointed chairman of EVA Airways in 2004, then stepped back from that role to train as a pilot in the U.S. He returned to the company in 2010 as chief executive vice president while continuing to fly, and was reappointed chairman in 2013. By combining direct operational experience with formal pilot training, he built a leadership style grounded in hands-on knowledge of the airline rather than boardroom distance alone.

Pilot Training And Technical Credentials

Chang’s pilot qualifications were built up over more than a decade. He began first officer training on the Boeing 777-300ER at EVA Air in 2010 and passed Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration captain examination in January 2013. Alongside his flying credentials, he also holds a professional aircraft maintenance license, a combination that gave him unusually direct insight into both cockpit operations and technical airline systems.

Pilot And Chairman Rise

Chang’s path to the top of EVA Air ran through hands-on flight experience as much as corporate roles, culminating in his second appointment as chairman in 2013.

Milestone	Impact
2004 chairmanship	First appointed chairman of EVA Airways
2010 return	Rejoined as chief executive vice president while training as a pilot
2013 chairmanship	Reappointed chairman; passed CAA captain exam
2016 exit	Removed while piloting a flight to Singapore, amid a family succession dispute

Chang was known for balancing office authority with cockpit presence, at one point being removed as chairman while he was personally piloting an EVA Air flight to Singapore in March 2016. That hands-on style carried over directly into how he later built STARLUX.

Why Did the EVA Air Succession Fight Start?

The succession fight began after Chang Yung-fa died in January 2016 and left a will naming Chang Kuo-wei as the sole successor to the Evergreen Group chairmanship and primary heir to his personal fortune. His three older half-brothers, who controlled the majority vote, dissolved the group chairmanship and removed him as EVA Air chairman while he was mid-flight to Singapore. He was subsequently barred from returning to any role in the Evergreen Group. The dispute escalated into a decade-long legal battle over the will’s validity: the Taipei District Court and Taiwan High Court both upheld the will in earlier rounds, and in August 2024 the Taiwan Supreme Court issued a final ruling confirming Chang’s right to inherit an estimated NT$14 billion (roughly US$433 million).

Why Did K.W. Chang Launch STARLUX Airlines?

After leaving EVA Air, Chang founded STARLUX Airlines in 2018 to build a luxury-focused carrier on his own terms, aiming to fill a gap in a market where no new airline had launched in 30 years. He backed that vision with BMW Designworks-designed cabin interiors and a brand identity built around premium service. The bet paid off quickly: when STARLUX opened ticket sales for its first three routes — Taipei-Macau, Taipei-Penang, and Taipei-Da Nang — all seats sold out within 11 minutes.

How Does STARLUX Airlines Stand Out Today?

STARLUX stands out through its BMW Designworks-shaped cabins, a rapidly expanding U.S. route network, and a tech-forward passenger experience that includes flat-bed business seats and free Wi-Fi on every flight.

Luxury Cabin Design

BMW’s Designworks studio shaped STARLUX’s cabin aesthetics. Business class passengers get an 82-inch fully flat bed and a 15.6-inch 1080p entertainment screen, while economy seats include a 10.1-inch 720p screen. Free basic Wi-Fi is offered on all flights and across all cabins, a first for a Taiwanese carrier. A signature P.Seven cabin scent, blending wood, leather, and floral notes, adds a distinct sensory touch.

Premium Route Expansion

STARLUX has built out a five-city U.S. network: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Ontario, California, followed by Phoenix, which launched on January 15, 2026, as the airline’s fifth U.S. destination and its first in the American Southwest. The Phoenix-Taipei route operates three times weekly using Airbus A350-900 aircraft, expanding to four weekly flights in March 2026. STARLUX also entered a partnership with American Airlines that lets travelers connect from more than 40 U.S. cities — including New York, Chicago, Boston, and Dallas-Fort Worth — through to Taipei and onward to 26 destinations across Asia. As of early 2026, STARLUX serves a total of 31 destinations across the U.S., Japan, Macau, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Tech-Forward Experience

STARLUX pairs its cabin design with modern aircraft, including the Airbus A321neo and A350 XWB, and connectivity features built around comfort and efficiency.

1. Modern aircraft improve efficiency and ride quality.
2. Free Wi-Fi keeps passengers online in the air.
3. BMW Designworks cabins create a refined, usable space.
4. Flat-bed business seats and 10.1-inch 720p economy screens raise comfort.

The airline has earned Skytrax 5-Star Airline status, APEX Five Star Global Airline recognition, and a 7-Star Plus Safety Rating from AirlineRatings.

How Did the 2024 Court Ruling Affect K.W. Chang?

In August 2024, the Taiwan Supreme Court upheld the validity of his father’s will, confirming Chang’s right to inherit an estimated NT$14 billion (about US$433 million) in assets and ending the decade-long dispute brought by his half-brother, Chang Kuo-cheng. Two months later, in October 2024, STARLUX completed its IPO on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, floating 18.5% of its equity and raising nearly $300 million; shares rose 54% on their first day of trading, giving the airline a market value of about $2.4 billion. Combined with the inheritance ruling, the listing pushed Chang’s estimated net worth to roughly $1.2 billion, based on his approximately 64% stake in STARLUX, which he holds alongside his two sons.

Effect	Outcome	Significance
Inheritance upheld	NT$14 billion confirmed	Legal victory
Family dispute settled	Decade-long litigation ended	Stability
STARLUX IPO (Oct. 2024)	~$300M raised, ~$2.4B valuation	Business milestone

What Awards Has K.W. Chang Won?

K.W. Chang’s honors reflect his standing in aviation and his role building STARLUX into a recognized luxury carrier.

1. Knight of the Legion of Honour, 2021 — awarded by the French government for his contributions to aviation and his partnership with Airbus.
2. STARLUX has earned Skytrax 5-Star Airline status.
3. STARLUX received the APEX Five Star Global Airline Award.
4. STARLUX holds a 7-Star Plus Safety Rating from AirlineRatings.

What Aviation Credentials Does K.W. Chang Hold?

Chang is widely described as the first airline chairman in Taiwan to simultaneously hold professional aircraft maintenance licenses and commercial pilot type ratings. He holds type ratings for the Boeing 777 and Airbus A321, A330, and A350, along with a U.S. FAA aircraft maintenance certificate. He began first officer training on the 777-300ER in 2010 and passed the CAA captain exam in January 2013. He also holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California. He remains an active pilot, having personally flown STARLUX delivery flights, including its first A321neo from Hamburg to Taipei and its inaugural long-haul flight to Los Angeles in 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was STARLUX founded?

STARLUX was founded in 2018 to bring a premium, luxury-focused flying experience to Taiwan’s market, reflecting K.W. Chang’s vision for high-end regional and long-haul travel after his departure from EVA Air.

How much is the owner of STARLUX worth?

K.W. Chang’s net worth is estimated at around $1.2 billion, based largely on his roughly 64% stake in STARLUX Airlines following its October 2024 stock exchange listing.

Who is Chang Kuo-Wei?

Chang Kuo-Wei, also known as K.W. Chang, is a Taiwanese aviator and businessman who served as EVA Air chairman before founding and leading STARLUX Airlines as its chairman.

Is STARLUX profitable?

Yes. STARLUX turned profitable in 2023, posting roughly NT$149 million in operating profit after a sharp jump in revenue, and it completed a successful IPO on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in October 2024.

Conclusion

K.W. Chang’s story is one of building after setbacks. He turned a bitter inheritance dispute into a new airline vision, and STARLUX now flies a premium brand across a growing international network, backed by a completed IPO and expanding U.S. routes. From EVA Air to courtroom battles to Phoenix’s first nonstop flight to Asia, Chang’s career shows how resilience — and a willingness to start over — can still open new skies.

Sources

1. Chang Kuo-wei — Wikipedia — biography, career timeline, and credentials
2. Taiwan News — August 2024 Supreme Court inheritance ruling
3. Forbes — STARLUX IPO, net worth, and profitability details
4. CNN Travel — STARLUX cabin design and launch details
5. Business Wire — Phoenix-Taipei route launch, January 2026