Taiwan's Starlux takes delivery of A350-1000 wide-body aircraft

台灣星宇航空接收A350-1000廣體客機

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Starlux Airlines on Tuesday said it has taken delivery of its first A350-1000 wide-body aircraft, a move expected to strengthen the carrier’s long-haul operations and enable future nonstop services between Taiwan and major markets such as the US and Europe, per CNA.

The aircraft was delivered in Toulouse, France, with Starlux Chair Chang Kuo-wei (張國煒) personally piloting the plane back to Taiwan, the airline said.

Starlux said the A350-1000 is currently the largest wide-body aircraft in its fleet and the largest model in the A350 family. The aircraft is configured with four classes of service: first class (4 seats), business class (40), premium economy (36), and economy (270), for a total of 350 seats.

With a maximum range of 15,600 km, the A350-1000 is expected to play a key role in the airline’s expansion. The aircraft’s extended range exceeds that of the A350-900, allowing for direct flights to destinations on the US East Coast.

Starlux Airlines CEO Glenn Chai (翟健華) said the arrival of the A350-1000 marks the company’s entry into a larger and more competitive long-haul market. He said Starlux will continue to expand its intercontinental route network, using Taipei as its main hub.

The airline said the new A350-1000 is expected to enter service in February, initially operating on select routes in Asia and North America. Starlux said five additional aircraft are scheduled for delivery by 2026.

Starlux currently operates a fleet of 30 aircraft, comprising 13 A321neo, six A330neo, 10 A350-900, and the newly delivered A350-1000. The airline has also placed orders for 10 A350F freighters as it plans to expand its cargo operations.