STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has placed a firm order for five all-new A350F freighters and three more A-330neo widebody aircraft. The agreement was signed at the "Singapore Airshow" (February 20-25) by KW Chang, Chairman of STARLUX Airlines and Christian Scherer, CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business of Airbus.

The carrier operates an all-Airbus passenger fleet that already includes the A-350/900, A-330neo and A-321neo. The A-350F will be operated by STARLUX Cargo on some of the world’s busiest cargo routes. 
 
 Currently under development, the A-350F can carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and can fly up to 4,700 nautical miles/8,700 kilometres. The airplane will enable STARLUX Cargo to serve all heavy cargo markets around the world.
 
 Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent-XWB97 engines, the aircraft will bring a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
 
 The A-350F features the largest main deck cargo door in the industry, with fuselage length and capacity optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers. Over 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 46 tonne lighter take-off weight. The model is also the only freighter aircraft that will fully meet ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards, coming into effect in 2027.
 
 Meanwhile, the additional order for the A-330neo will see STARLUX Airlines continue to build one of the most modern and efficient passenger fleets. The incremental order will boost its A-330neo fleet from four to seven, with the aircraft featuring 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 A-350 Family had won over 1,200 orders from 57 customers worldwide, including 50 for the A-350F from nine leading cargo airlines. In the mid-size category, the A-330neo Family continues to gain momentum, with nearly 300 firm orders from 28 customers.