STARLUX founder lands carrier’s first of 18 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in Taiwan

Airlines Starlux Airbus A350 1000
STARLUX

The chairman and founder of STARLUX Airlines, Chang Kuo-Wei has delivered the airline’s first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft following a 13-hour flight from Toulouse Blagnac Airport (TLS).

The first of 18 Airbus A350-1000 widebody jets landed safely at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taiwan on January 6, 2026, shortly after 09:30 local time.

Kuo-Wei and STARLUX representatives met at the Airbus facility in southern France on January 5, 2025, where the new A350-1000 was officially handed over to the airline in a special signing ceremony.

STARLUX initially ordered 12 A350-1000s but reduced the order to eight and increased its order for the smaller A350-900 from six to 10.

Starlux Airbus A350 1000
STARLUX

Then at the Paris Air Show 2025, STAARLUX placed a new firm order for 10 additional Airbus A350‑1000 with deliveries expected to start from 2031. According to STARLUX, the carrier expects to receive a further five A350-1000s in 2026.

The new aircraft, registered B-58551, features a new livery design with a “carbon-fiber motif, representing the advanced composite materials integral to the aircraft’s construction”.

The A350-1000 has also been painted with ‘1000’ emblazoned on the fuselage to signal its role as the airline’s largest member of the A350 family and the new long-haul flagship.

The new A350-1000 will join a fleet of 10 A350-900s already in service with the airline which operates on long-haul services to Europe, North America and some destinations in the Asia Pacific.

“The A350-1000 cabin design mirrors that of the A350-900 and is created by the BMW Designworks team. Based on the concept of “Glisten,” it presents a luxurious, polished look. Focused on “comfort, privacy, and a sense of belonging,” the design ensures that passengers in all classes feel “at home” during their journey,” said STARLUX.

Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, STARLUX said that the A350-1000 is “designed to deliver a calm, spacious, long-haul experience”.

The cabin features four first class seats, 40 business class, 36 premium economy and 270 economy class.

Marking the aircraft’s arrival, STARLUX posted a message on social media indicating that its fleet had now reached 30 jets.

The airline said that the new A350-1000 will initially operate on routes within Asia to “build operational experience”.

Starlux Airbus A350 1000
Airbus

“Where will its very first destination be? Find out this February,” teased STARLUX in a social media post.

STARLUX currently operates an all-Airbus fleet comprising the A321neo, the A330-900, and the A350-900 aircraft. STARLUX has become the 11th global operator of the largest version of the A350.

Celebrating the new arrival, Airbus wrote on social media: “Congratulations Starlux Airlines on your 1st #A350-1000! The #LongRangeLeader will soon be flying passengers in style, offering superior comfort and connectivity in its beautiful #AirspaceCabin and delivering unmatched efficiency to its long-haul operations.”

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