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, 2025, 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.
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.
台湾初導入の A350-1000
本日10時15分、台北にタッチダウン🎉B-58551の受領により、スターラックス航空のフリートは30機体制に。
新たなフラッグシップにご期待ください💫#STARLUX #A350_1000 pic.twitter.com/0wE30QH0IE— STARLUX Airlines Japan (@starluxjapan) January 6, 2026
“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”.
“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.”
