STARLUX of Taiwan welcomes first Airbus A350-1000 as new flagship aircraft

STARLUX Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, becoming the 11th airline worldwide to operate the largest variant of the A350 family. The aircraft is the first of 18 A350-1000s on order and will join STARLUX’s existing fleet of 10 A350-900s, which are deployed on long-haul routes from Taipei to Europe and North America, as well as selected Asia-Pacific destinations.

To mark the milestone, the Taiwanese carrier unveiled a special livery combining its signature design elements with a carbon-fibre motif, symbolising the advanced composite materials used in the aircraft. A prominent “1000” on the fuselage highlights the aircraft’s status as Airbus’ largest in-production widebody and STARLUX’s new flagship.

STARLUX operates an all-Airbus fleet including the A321neo, A330-900 and A350-900, with the A350-1000 designed to seamlessly complement its long-haul operations. The airline has also ordered 10 A350F freighters as part of its future cargo expansion strategy.

The A350 family is recognised as one of the most advanced widebody aircraft in service, offering significant improvements in fuel efficiency, operating costs and CO? emissions compared with previous-generation aircraft. It features Airbus’ Airspace cabin, designed to enhance passenger comfort with wider seats, higher ceilings and advanced ambient lighting. The A350 is already certified to operate with up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel, with Airbus targeting full SAF capability by 2030.

As of late November 2025, the A350 programme had secured close to 1,500 orders from 66 customers worldwide, underscoring its strong position in the long-haul market.