STARLUX has taken delivery of their first of 19 Airbus A350-900s on order which will joining their all-Airbus A330neo and A321neo fleet. The carrier’s new A350-900s will have four First Class suites, 26 Business Class seats, 36 Premium Economy and 240 Economy Class seats.
On Monday (October 31, 2022), Airbus announced that STARLUX Airlines has taken delivery of their first of 18 Airbus A350-900s. The carrier has selected a four-class layout for their new A350s which feature four First Class suites, 26 Business Class seats, 36 Premium Economy and 240 Economy Class seats. The aircraft also features the spacious and comfortable state-of-the-art Airspace cabin, as well the latest inflight entertainment (IFE) systems and full connectivity. The new widebody aircraft will join STARLUX’s all-Airbus fleet of A330neos and A321neos.
In Monday’s announcement, STARLUX Airlines’ CEO, Glenn Chai, said,
“This delivery is a milestone for STARLUX Airlines. The A350-900 is our first large widebody aircraft, which will allow STARLUX to open markets for longer routes, and this also marks the next step for our partnership with Airbus, as there will be 17 more A350s deliveries in the future. With the addition of the A350-900, the STARLUX fleet now can cover short, mid, and long range flights, providing service to passengers outside of Asia.”
Also commenting on the A350-900 delivery, Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer, said,
“With an all-new generation, all-Airbus fleet, STARLUX is introducing new levels of comfort and efficiency to the long-haul premium market. Passengers will enjoy a seamless travel experience featured by Airbus’ appealing Airspace cabin design. Flying together, the A350, A330neo and A321neo perfectly play out all the advantages of Airbus’ unique fleet commonality, driving operational cost down while providing all flexibility to match capacity with demand.”
In a separate announcement on Monday (October 31, 2021), Rolls-Royce Aerospace’s Chief Customer Officer, Ewen McDonald, said,
“We would like to congratulate STARLUX on taking delivery of their first A350 passenger aircraft, which is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines. This delivery builds on our partnership with STARLUX who earlier this year took delivery of their first A330neo, which is also powered by our Trent 7000 engines. We look forward to further supporting STARLUX to maximize their fleet performance and achieve operational excellence. We thank STARLUX for their trust in Rolls-Royce, and we will continue our commitment to providing reliable power and world-class service to help STARLUX fly higher and further."
STARLUX will also benefit from the A350-900’s efficiency, with the aircraft delivering a 25 percent in fuel reduction and emissions compared to previous generation aircraft in the same size range. The carrier will initially deploy their new A350 fleet in the Asia-Pacific region and later on trans-Pacific routes. To date, Airbus has received over 900 firm A350 orders from more than 50 customers worldwide, of which nearly 500 have been delivered.
STARLUX Will Benefit From a High Degree of Commonality in Their All-Airbus Fleet - Courtesy Airbus
Launched in 2020, STARLUX currently operates seven 188-seat Airbus A321neos and three 297-seat Airbus A330neos. The carrier will receive another A330neo and two Airbus A350-900s by the end of 2022. The airline’s main hub is located at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, located about 25 miles west of Taipei. STARLUX Airlines currently offers service to Macau, Penang, Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila, among others. STARLUX guests enjoy a carefully curated inflight experience including a playful animated 3D safety video, specially designed seats, an exclusive cabin fragrance and unique boarding music. The airline has designed the entire flight experience to satisfy the five senses of each passenger. Flights on departure from Taiwan feature Business Class meals prepared by the Michelin-starred Chef Lam Ming Kin of Taiwanese restaurant Longtail, while Economy Class guests enjoy a menu created by the renowned Japanese-Style restaurant Hutong in Taiwan.
Source(s): Airbus, STARLUX Airlines, Rolls-Royce