2026 is off to an exciting start for Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines, which has just taken delivery of its very first Airbus A350-1000.
In this post:
Starlux taking delivery of 18 Airbus A350-1000s
Starlux launched operations in 2020, as Taiwan’s third full-service, high quality airline, after China Airlines and EVA Air. The airline is an all-Airbus operator, and launched operations with the A321neo, then took delivery of A330-900neos, and then took delivery of A350-900s.
Now the airline has taken delivery of its first A350-1000, which represents the carrier’s largest plane to date. More specifically, Starlux has already taken delivery of all 10 A350-900s it had on order, and now it’s starting to take delivery of the 18 A350-1000s it has on order.
The first new A350 just touched down in Taipei (TPE), and has the registration code B-58551. I’ve gotta say, that’s one gorgeous plane!
All of Starlux’s long haul routes are operated by A350s, so as the airline expands its A350 fleet from 10 frames to 28 frames, you can also expect huge growth from the airline, including to more destinations in North America, plus destinations in Australia and Europe for the first time.
The airline expects to take delivery of all of these planes by 2031, so the delivery timeline isn’t that fast — expect an average of a few new planes per year.
The A350-1000 is the stretched version of the A350-900, with incredible range and unit costs. So it’s an extremely efficient plane, and I’m sure Starlux will have no issues filling seats on long haul flights, given the traffic patterns through Taiwan.
Starlux A350-1000s are in a four-cabin, 350-seat layout
What should passengers expect onboard Starlux’s Airbus A350-1000s? While the airline hasn’t formally revealed the cabins yet, it’s my understand that the interiors will mirror those on the A350-900, except will be a bit bigger. Specifically:
- Starlux A350-900s feature 306 seats, including four first class seats, 26 business class seats, 36 premium economy seats, and 240 economy seats
- Starlux A350-1000s feature 350 seats, including four first class seats, 40 business class seats, 36 premium economy seats, and 270 economy seats
As you can see, the A350-1000s feature an extra 14 business class seats and 30 economy seats, compared to the smaller variant. I haven’t actually seen the new seat map, but it’s pretty clear what’s planned here.
Between the first and second set of doors there are presumably 44 seats, including the four first class seats and 40 business class seats. This means Starlux is keeping the same strange first class product as before, with sky high pricing, yet a hard product that’s more of a “business class plus” than anything, given that there’s not even a curtain between first and business class.
Starlux business class is excellent, though, as the airline offers the Collins Aerospace Element product, which I rank among the best business class seats.
The premium economy cabin remains unchanged, right behind the second set of doors.
Meanwhile economy just has a few extra rows, given that the A350-1000 is a stretched version of the A350-900.
So this should be a pleasant ride all-around, though I continue to be confused by Starlux’s approach to first class (and also really frustrated, since I want to try it on a long haul flight, but can’t bring myself to drop what they’re charging for something that’s not even a fully separate cabin).
Bottom line
Starlux Airlines has just taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, and the airline should add 18 of these to its fleet by 2031. This is the carrier’s biggest plane to date, and complements the 10 existing A350-900s. Expect the A350-1000 product to be very similar to what you’ll find on the A350-900, with the only differences being an extra 14 business class seats and an extra 30 economy class seats.
What do you make of Starlux adding the A350-1000 to its fleet?
I agree that the hard product is excellent with one of the best seats in the industry. The zero gravity position is most comfortable. However, I found the soft product to be very inconsistent.
Happy to see this, the A350-1000 is my favorite of the long-haul widebody aircraft. Glad Starlux is doing its fleet right!
Where's the first class cabin picture?
Starlux Airlines announced on the 6th that it had received its first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, the first to be introduced by a Taiwanese airline, in Toulouse, France, and that the aircraft was flown to Taiwan by the company's Chairman, Chang Kuo-wei. Speaking to reporters on the same day, Chairman Chang revealed that the aircraft will be deployed on Japan routes before the Lunar New Year (this year on February 17th), with the first route being Tokyo.
Any word on their oneworld membership?
I would LOVE for them to join Oneworld. Still awaiting that announcement.
Over Cathay Pacific's dead body, maybe.
"Over Cathay Pacific's dead body, maybe."
You haven't been paying attention.
Cathay's CEO has been asked this question multiple times, and directly said his airline will not veto if the majority of OneWorld's Governing Board makes an offer to Starlux. Contrast that to his refusal to answer the question, when asked the same about China Southern joining.
IIRC, the original plan was to have their first A35K before the end of 2025. I wonder if the delay was because of manufacturing issues (Rolls-Royce engines?) or the airline just pushed it back a bit. Regional flights first for crew familiarity. New destination could be Dallas, Chicago, or New York if North America; London or Helsinki if Europe. They could be a oneworld airline in all but name
The A350-1000, is a mighty fine ride. I have spent several hundred hours travelling in J.
One is happy to travel with selected carriers who offer an F cabin, in the 777. Perhaps I should put a JAL, A350, F Class ride on my bucket list?
If asked nicely, I would offer an option on which aircraft I prefer …. Ok! You win ****, I really do like the 350 best today, however, that might change with next month’s foray into the unknown.
Is that a new tail livery or just something special for this plane? I like it!
Flew JX F recently from Asia to USA.
The seats are an incremental upgrade on the business cabin but it's the all round soft product that that shines through.
Oeganized by their concierge at no extra cost, picked up at hotel by local limo service.
Greated curbside by ground staff that took everything including packing our check luggage into oversized crates and expediting to the aircraft. Escorted through terminal to seat, including their companying us...
Flew JX F recently from Asia to USA.
The seats are an incremental upgrade on the business cabin but it's the all round soft product that that shines through.
Oeganized by their concierge at no extra cost, picked up at hotel by local limo service.
Greated curbside by ground staff that took everything including packing our check luggage into oversized crates and expediting to the aircraft. Escorted through terminal to seat, including their companying us on a detour through tax claim.
On board, gave out birthday cake (and lots of Peanuts branded totes, color books, etc) to the kids.
Collected at Taipei and driven across terminal - escorted to seat. Similar soft product goodies doled out. Front bulkhead toilet reserved for us and pilots to the chagrin on business pax. Rough flight turbulence wise but hey ho.
At LAX, collected by P/S, and driven to private suite for food drinks and decompression - cleared customs and immigration there, they also got our checked bags and brought them to the curb for our onward Uber.
Exceptional experience all round, with minor quibbles around the food and IFE programming depth.
At least the seat config for eco is a reasonable 9 abreast unlike another airline who recently took delivery of the same aircraft.
@JW
Starlux is on another level. That airline that took delivery of the A350-1000 with 10 abreast economy used the words comfortable, game changing and elegant for those tiny and narrow 16.5 inch seats. How pathetic.
Philippine Air Lines shocked me with the 3-4-3 layout. The width must be horrible
Yup, 16.5 inches. Good grief.
You must be referring to PAL who decided to go with that horrendous 10-abreast seating in Economy. That gives those seats a seat width of just 16.5 inches.
To be new operators of the A350-1000 in 2026.
1). Starlux
2). Qantas
3). Delta
4). Air India
5). EVA Air
6). Turkish
7). Lufthansa
Nasir, or, anyone else who might know …. a question if you please:
Is there a list of customers taking delivery of new Boeing aircraft types?
Yet another airline gets their 350-1000 before Delta.
Their first batch of 10 A350-1000s were ordered back in 2020 they will take delivery of 6 this year and 4 next year. The remaining 8 won't be delivered until 2030 or later. Meanwhile Delta didn't order the A350-1000 until January 2024 a full 4 years after Starlux. Of course Starlux would take delivery of their A35Ks before Delta and I would say Delta was lucky to get the 2026 and 2027 delivery slots given the popularity of the entire A350 program.
@UncleRonnie
Tim Dunn will have something to say about this.
But to be honest, Starlux ordered the A350-1000 years before Delta did. So they received the plane before Delta.
Layout is roughly similar to CX with a ± in seats give or take.
I wonder when we get to see them stretch their legs further east into ORD and JFK :D
And speaking of CX:
-A350 is in retro colours with a -8F to follow
-A 773 will not be painted in retro colours, but in a another "special" livery later on (whatever that means)
-New A330 product later this year
And, if CX can fly 2-3x to JFK daily, there’s no reason Starlux can’t join EVA and China Airlines to do the same. Nice to have more options. Easy connections from TPE to all over E. Asia, too. Ideally, more engagement and trade deters further aggression by neighbors… *cough*
“Cough” …. and who will deter the aggression by Greenland’s neighbours 1990?
Oh, no, you see, that’s for ‘national security’ and ‘rare earths’ and ‘narwhals’… totally different. ;-)
I hope the aft J lavs are placed in a better location on the -1000. (crosses fingers)
Totally agree. It's awkward to have to walk through one lav (being used) to get to the open lav. And then leaving that lav to walk into the other with another customer to walk out the door. Who thought a communal lav was a good customer experience? Jeesh.
Beautiful. Airbus is knocking it outta the park with a350; far surpassing Boeing’s super-delayed 777X. Airlines like Delta scored by trusting Airbus for its long-haul fleet. 35K, 339, 321X neo and XLR, and 220 are the future. I’d add any of the E2s for regionals, too.
The A350-1000 has way less orders than the 777-9, which is the closest Airbus product to the 777X.
The A350-900 is in a whole different class compared to the 777X. So your take is really not accurate when comparing apples to apples.
Well-aware of order numbers, and even that is shifting, because the issue is timely deliveries. Airbus is actually delivering. Boeing isn’t going…
I believe that they expect 6 planes this year (the first was initially scheduled for the end of 2025 + 5 scheduled for 2026), then 2 planes in 2027 followed by a 4 year gap with deliveries resuming in 2031.
Source: https://djsaviation.net/exciting-new-a350-1000-delivery/
Hope they’ll put one of these new 35K on TPE-JFK. Would be nice to see them expand their route map to the US East Coast, too. Large Taiwanese community here (NYC), too.
Hope they start flying to Europe soon, would love to try them.