Starlux Airlines to buy additional 10 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) Taiwan's Starlux Airlines announced Thursday that it has signed an agreement to purchase an additional 10 widebody Airbus A350-1000s.

The order agreement was inked by Starlux Airlines CEO Glenn Chai (翟健華) and Airbus EVP for sales of the commercial aircraft business Benoît de Saint-Exupéry on Wednesday during at the Paris Air Show, the carrier said.

The carrier, Taiwan's newest, said it will spend up to US$4.48 billion for the purchase with deliveries expected to start in 2031, adding the upcoming A350-1000s will be assigned to middle to long haul services at a time when the airline is gearing up to expand its fleet for a global network expansion.

In addition, the carrier said it will also spend up to about US$154 million to buy three spare Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.

Currently, Starlux Airlines runs an all-Airbus fleet of 28 aircraft: 10 A350-900s, five A330neos and 13 A321neos. In addition, the carrier has on order 30 aircraft including the A350F freighters and A350-1000s and it is slated to take delivery of the first A350-1000 at the end of this year.

In the wake of the latest purchase deal, Starlux Airlines is expected to own a total of 18 A350-1000s, the carrier said.

According to Airbus, the A350 family is the world's most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and has set new standards for intercontinental travel as it is designed to fly up to 9,700 nautical miles or 18,000 kilometers non-stop, using 25 percent less fuel than previous generation types and with a similar reduction in carbon emissions.

"Expanding our international fleet with additional A350-1000s is a significant step toward reinforcing our global presence and enhancing connectivity across key markets," Chai said in a statement.

"As we continue to strengthen our international network, the A350-1000 will play an important role in driving growth, sustainability and operational flexibility," Chai added.

On Tuesday, Skytrax, a United Kingdom-based airline rating agency, announced Starlux has been certified a 5-Star Airline and named the World's Most Improved Airline, five years after it launched operations.

The 5-star recognition, announced at the 2025 World Airline Awards in Paris, acknowledges Starlux Airlines' outstanding passenger experience, cabin quality and onboard service.

Only 11 airlines worldwide received the 5-star certification in 2025, including EVA Airways, another Taiwanese carrier, which has been on the 5-star list for 10 years in a row.