Total freighter fleet reaches 10; STARLUX becomes one of the largest purchasers of A350F

STARLUX Airlines, in partnership with Airbus, and Rolls-Royce, today announced the execution of an option for five A350F freighters, doubling its freighter fleet to 10 aircraft. This strategic move positions STARLUX as one of the largest purchasers of the A350F model. This order builds upon the purchase agreement signed last year at the 2024 Singapore Airshow. A formal signing ceremony held at the STARLUX Flight Operations Center in Taiwan marked the formalization of the purchase agreement.

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STARLUX Airlines, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce formalized their purchase agreement with a signing ceremony at the STARLUX Flight Operations Center in Taiwan. Pictured (from left to right): STARLUX Chief Cargo Commercial Officer, James Chiou; STARLUX Chief Procurement Officer, Steve Huang; Airbus Senior Vice President/Head of Commercial Accounts, Asia-Pacific, Chris Drewer; and Rolls-Royce President, China Branch, Troy Wang. (Photo: STARLUX Airlines)

“STARLUX Airlines has continuously nurtured the cargo market since its inception, capitalizing on the strategic advantages offered by Taiwan’s geographical location,” said STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai. “This acquisition of five more A350F freighters not only prepares us for the rapidly growing demand in the cargo market but also reflects our optimism about the potential of the international cargo market. The A350F is the most fuel-efficient freighter in the industry, meeting customer requirements to reduce carbon emissions and is in line with STARLUX’s ESG plan to achieve zero emissions by 2050."

According to Airbus Executive Vice President Sales Commercial Aircraft, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry de Saint-Exupéry: “We thank STARLUX Airlines for its ongoing confidence in Airbus and its products. The A350F will fit seamlessly into the carrier’s latest generation all-Airbus fleet which offers unrivalled levels of technical and operational commonality. This second order from this fast-growing airline is another endorsement of the all-new A350F as the future game-changer in heavy-lift markets.”

Ewen McDonald, Chief Customer Officer, Rolls-Royce – Civil Aerospace, said: “It’s been a pleasure collaborating with STARLUX Airlines and we’re delighted that they have opted for an additional five Trent XWB-97 powered Airbus A350F. We thank STARLUX Airlines for its continued confidence in the power of our Trent engines. The engine will benefit from the £1bn investment we’re making to the Trent engine family that improves their durability and efficiency across all operations. We are proud to continue supporting the expansion of STARLUX Airlines and look forward to supporting these new aircraft as they enter into service.”

The A350F freighter is equipped with Roll-Royce’s Trent XWB engines, which are also used in the A350 passenger aircraft. These engines are renowned as the most fuel-efficient large aero engine in today’s market, reducing fuel consumption by 25% on aircraft level and cutting engine noise by half. With a 109 tonne payload capability, the A350F features the largest main cargo door in the industry, with its fuselage length and capacity optimized around the industry’s standard pallets and containers.

STARLUX currently operates a fleet of 26 aircraft, including 13 A321neos, five A330neos, and eight A350-900 aircraft. The 10 A350F freighters are scheduled for delivery starting 2027. STARLUX aims to strengthen both its passenger and cargo network through this strategic fleet expansion and route development.

About STARLUX Airlines

Founded on the philosophy that luxury should be available to everyone, not just the elite, Taiwan-based STARLUX is a boutique international airline serving 24 Asian destinations (Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore) and three US destinations from Taipei. STARLUX passengers traveling between North America and Asia are able to enjoy an easy transfer in Taipei with its three US routes: Los Angeles-Taipei, San Francisco-Taipei, and Seattle-Taipei. STARLUX prioritizes safety and offers unparalleled service with the goal of making flying a truly luxurious and unforgettable experience. For more information, visit https://www.starlux-airlines.com/en-US, or on our US social channels Facebook and Instagram.

About Airbus

As a proven leader in the global aerospace sector, Airbus designs, produces and delivers innovative solutions with the aim to create a better-connected, safer, and more prosperous world. The company’s cutting-edge products and services — which span the commercial aircraft, helicopter, defense, security, and space segments — benefit from their wide-ranging expertise and continued emphasis on innovation. www.airbus.com

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power to protect.
2. Rolls-Royce has a presence in 48 countries and customers in more than 150, comprising over 250 commercial large aero engine customers, 160 armed forces and navies and approximately 40,000 active Power Systems customers. We are committed to becoming a net zero company by 2050 and we support our customers to do the same.
3. Annual underlying revenue was £15.4bn in 2023, underlying operating profit was £1.6bn and free cash flow £1.3bn.
4. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)
   
   www.rolls-royce.com

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