Starlux Airlines ordered three Airbus A330neo planes and five A350F freighters at the Singapore Airshow on February 21. The Taiwanese carrier aims to expand its fleet and route network after commencing operations in January 2020.

The Order

The A330neos will add to Starlux's passenger fleet, which consists entirely of Airbus planes. The airline currently has four A330neos, four A350-900s, and 13 A321neos in service. Starlux's order book also has six A350-900s, eight A350-1000s, and four more A330neos. Meanwhile, the A350Fs will allow the carrier to offer cargo routes.

Glenn Chai, Starlux's CEO, said about the order:

"STARLUX Airlines has continuously nurtured the cargo market since its inception, capitalising on the strategic advantages offered by Taiwan's geographical location. With this order, STARLUX will become the first Taiwanese airline to operate the next-generation A350F widebody freighter. In an era of climate change, the A350F has unbeatable efficiency in terms of fuel burn, CO2 emissions, and economics, offering significant energy-saving and carbon reduction benefits. It not only meets customer requirements for carbon reduction but also aligns with STARLUX's ESG plan to achieve zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, the three new A330neos will strengthen our fleet advantage and provide greater flexibility for passenger operations."

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus' Executive Vice President of Sales for Commercial Aircraft, highlighted the benefits of the A330neo and A350F aircraft. He said that both planes significantly reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Starlux views these specifications as essential to meeting its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Benoît also highlighted the A350F's ability to compete effectively with leading players on major cargo routes.

Starlux's A330neos can accommodate 297 passengers across two cabin classes. The plane has 28 seats in business class and 269 seats in economy class. The carrier's A330neos are the A330-900 variant, with a maximum range of 7,200 nautical miles (13,334 kilometers). 

Meanwhile, the A350F is expected to carry up to 111 tons of cargo across a maximum of 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers) once it enters service in 2026. The A350F will reduce emissions and fuel consumption by 40% compared to the Boeing 747F. Although Starlux has yet to reveal which cargo routes it will offer, the A350F's range suggests that the carrier will use it for flights within Asia.

Starlux's Routes

Starlux currently offers regularly scheduled commercial flights to 23 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region and North America from its hub at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) near Taipei. The airline also has charter flights to Hagåtña, Guam (GUM), and will launch charter service to Takamatsu, Japan (TAK) on March 31. In the Asia-Pacific region, Starlux serves destinations in Japan, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The carrier plans to add its second Taiwanese destination, Taichung (RMQ), on March 31.

Starlux has nonstop flights from Taipei to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) in North America, and it plans to launch flights to Seattle (SEA) sometime this year. The carrier's U.S. routes use Airbus A350-900 planes that can accommodate 306 passengers across four cabin classes. Starlux's presence in the North American market also involves sponsoring the Los Angeles Dodgers from Major League Baseball (MLB). The Airbus orders will allow Starlux to more effectively establish itself among Taiwan's two other major airlines, EVA Air and China Airlines.