STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has placed a firm order with Airbus for an additional five A350F freighters, doubling its initial order from last year. The new A350F fleet will be operated by STARLUX Cargo on some of the world's busiest freight routes.
“The cargo market is set to become a key element in our business model and will benefit from the advantages offered by Taiwan's geographical location,” said STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai. “The A350F is the perfect choice for STARLUX, offering a similar payload-range capability as previous-generation freighters but with very significant reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions.”
STARLUX Airlines currently operates a fleet of 26 Airbus aircraft, including the A321neo, the A330neo and the A350-900.
The A350F, still under development, can carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and fly up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometres). Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft delivers up to 40% reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation freighters with similar payload-range capabilities.
Featuring the largest main deck cargo door in the industry, the A350F's fuselage length and capacity are optimised for standard pallets and containers. Over 70% of the airframe is made from advanced materials, making it 46 tonnes lighter in take-off weight than its competing derivative. The A350F is also the only freighter designed to fully comply with ICAO's enhanced CO₂ emissions standards, which will come into effect in 2027.
