STARLUX Signs Official Agreement Purchasing 17 A350 XWBs to Expand Long-Haul Routes

     TAIPEI, March 19, 2019 — Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines, signed a purchase agreement for 12 A350-1000s and five A350-900s with ten options in a signing ceremony held in Taipei today. K.W. Chang, founder and Chairman of STARLUX Airlines, Glenn Chai, President of STARLUX and Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer of Airbus, Jean Francois Laval, Executive Vice President for Sales in Asia of Airbus and Paul Freestone, Senior Vice President – Customers, Civil Aerospace of Rolls-Royce signed the document.

    STARLUX and Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Farnborough International Airshow for the purchase deal in July last year. After extensive negotiations over the past eight months, the details of the agreement have finally been confirmed. The ceremony today marks a milestone for the cooperation between the three parties.

     “We are very glad that Airbus, Rolls-Royce and STARLUX have finally come to this important moment to sign an official purchase deal today. I believe this will not only be of great benefit to all three parities, but also be a great boost for the development of all three companies,” K.W. Chang said. “STARLUX is committed to becoming one of the best airlines in the world. We are positive that with A350 XWBs, we will be able to spread our wings to further destinations, bringing our best-in-class services to more people over the world in the near future.”

    A350 XWB Family features cutting-edge fuselage design and outstanding efficiency. The aircraft are built with over 70% advanced materials, combining 53% carbon composites, titanium and modern aluminum alloys to create a lighter and more cost-efficient aircraft. With its many innovative features, it boasts 25% lower operating costs, fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared with previous-generation aircraft. STARLUX will be the first airline in Taiwan to fly the A350-1000. The A350-900s it introduces will have more cabin space than current model, allowing more spacious seating and increased carry-on capacity.  

       "What K.W. and STARLUX are proving is that when you start from a clean sheet, you make no compromises. Compared to the alternative, every STARLUX A350-1000 takes off 45 tonnes lighter and will fly up to 1,000 more miles, enabling STARLUX to serve US-East Coast destinations nonstop. Imagine the savings and extra market & revenue!” said Christian Scherer. “Both the A350-1000 and A350-900 offer true long range capability, greater passenger comfort, yet all the economic benefits of fleet commonality. We salute STARLUX's strategic choice with gratitude and we will be there to support their legitimate ambition." 

       Among the 17 A350XWBs STARLUX has ordered, five A350-900s and 12 A350-1000s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB84 engines and Trent XWB97 engines, respectively. The Trent XWB engine is the largest of Rolls-Royce’s renowned Trent family and the most efficient large aero engine flying today. It is designed and optimized specially for the Airbus A350 XWB family, contributing to the A350 XWB’s 25% fuel burn improvement and helping reduce the aircraft’s overall noise footprint to half the level of previous generation aircraft. Paul Freestone said, "We are delighted with the trust that STARLUX Airlines has placed in Rolls-Royce and extremely proud to support another new and important customer with our world-leading Trent XWB engines.”

      STARLUX has now officially confirmed the make-up of its initial fleet. The airline will begin accepting delivery of 10 Airbus A321neos in this October. In line with the company’s plan to expand routes to North America in 2022, five A350-900s will be delivered beginning in late 2021 while the 12 A350-1000s will begin to join STARLUX’s fleet in the third quarter of 2022. STARLUX’s fleet is expected to include up to 27 aircraft by the end of 2024 to serve over 20 destinations in Asia and North America.

     This year, STARLUX Airlines will accelerate its efforts to get its fleet and team ready to take off in early 2020. The first class of STARLUX has already begun intensive training in Phoenix, Arizona, which will take about a year to finish. Assessment of the first batch of cabin crew trainees also ended earlier this month, and full-scale recruitment of airport ground staff is planned to begin in May.