KUALA LUMPUR: Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines has placed a firm order for five all-new Airbus A350F freighters and three more Airbus A330neo widebody aircraft.
Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai said the airline has continuously nurtured the cargo market since its inception, capitalising on the strategic advantages offered by Taiwan’s geographical location.
With this order, he said that 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 meets customer requirements for carbon reduction and aligns with Starlux’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (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,” he said in a statement.
The agreement was signed at the Singapore Airshow by Starlux chairman KW Chang and Airbus chief executive officer of commercial aircraft business Christian Scherer.
“We love working with Starlux Airlines in building and strengthening its fleet. Operating the latest generation Airbus single-aisle and widebody aircraft brings the airline enormous benefits.
“It significantly reduces fuel consumption and carbon emission and offers unrivalled levels of technical commonality, benefits in maintenance and training.
“The A350F, the only new generation large freighter, will fit seamlessly into this all-Airbus fleet and enable Starlux
Airlines to compete effectively with the leading players in key cargo markets,” Airbus executive vice president of sales, commercial aircraft Benoît de Saint-Exupéry said.
Starlux Airlines operates an all-Airbus passenger fleet that already includes the A350-900, A330neo and A321neo.
Starlux Cargo will operate the A350F on some of the world’s busiest cargo routes.
Currently under development, the A350F can carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and
fly up to 4,700 nautical miles/8,700 kilometres at a significantly lower cost than any other freighter available today.
The A350F will enable Starlux Cargo to serve all heavy cargo markets worldwide.
Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent-XWB97 engines, the aircraft will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 40 per cent compared to the older 747F and is at least 20 per cent more efficient than its competitor.
The A350F features the industry’s largest main deck cargo door, with fuselage length
and capacity optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers.
Over 70 per cent of the airframe is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 46-tonne lighter take-off weight than the competing derivative.
The A350F is also the only freighter aircraft that will fully meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) enhanced CO₂ emissions standards, coming into effect in 2027.
Meanwhile, the additional order for the A330neo will see Starlux Airlines continue to build one of the most modern and efficient passenger fleets, offering the highest levels of in-flight comfort.
The incremental order will boost its A330neo fleet from four to seven, with
the aircraft features a premium two-class cabin comprising 28 business-class seats and 269 economy-class seats.
Airbus widebody aircraft are especially popular with airlines in the Asia-Pacific, with nearly 900 in-service and 190 to be delivered.
At the end of January, the latest generation A350 family had secured over 1,200 orders from 57 customers worldwide, including 50 for the A350F from nine leading cargo airlines.
In the mid-size category, the A330neo family continues to gain momentum, with nearly 300 firm orders from 28 customers.
