Starlux Airlines has placed a firm order with Airbus for five more Airbus A350 freighters after entering the freighter market last year with an initial order of five A350Fs.
The Taiwan-based airline doubled its A350F order by exercising its options secured in February last year at the Singapore Airshow.
“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 chief executive 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.”
To date Starlux Airlines operates a fleet of 26 Airbus aircraft including the A321neo, the A330neo and the A350-900. The airline’s existing four A350 passenger aircraft and outstanding orders for 14 shows its familiarity with the model.
“We thank STARLUX Airlines for its ongoing confidence in Airbus and its products,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus executive vice president sales, commercial aircraft at Airbus.
“The A350F will fit seamlessly into the carrier’s latest generation all-Airbus fleet which offers unrivalled levels of technical and operational commonality. This second order from this fast-growing airline is another endorsement of the all-new A350F as the future game-changer in heavy lift markets.”
The A350F is currently under development with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in 2026.
The aircraft has a payload of up to 111 tonnes and can fly up to 8,700 km. It also has the largest maindeck cargo door in the industry, according to Airbus.
France-based Airbus claims the aircraft will bring a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40% when compared with the older 747F and is at least 20% more efficient than its competitor.
Including this latest order, the new widebody freighter has won 63 orders from 10 aircraft operators.
In December 2023, Airbus secured an order from Turkish Airlines for five A350Fs, to add to its current 19 A350-900s.
In the same month, Cathay Cargo placed an order for six of the aircraft, with the right to order 20 more. The carrier currently has 29 A350-900s and 16 A350-1000s.
Air France-KLM Group also ordered four A350Fs in January 2023 for operation by Martinair on behalf of KLM Cargo and currently has 29 A350-900s in service.
This followed a December 2021 order for four A350Fs to be operated by Air France, with the order confirmed in April 2022.
In February 2022, Singapore Airlines firmed up an order for seven A350Fs, Silk Way West Airlines ordered two of the model in June that year, while Etihad Cargo firmed up an order for seven two months afterwards, later increasing to 10 of the model.
Then back in November 2021, US lessor Air Lease ordered seven A350Fs and shipping firm CMA CGM ordered four for CMA CGM Air Cargo, but the order was doubled in April 2024.
Boeing is also developing a new freighter based on its developmental 777-8 widebody, which has so far accumulated 55 orders from carriers such as Qatar Airways, Cargolux and All Nippon Airways.
However, orders of Boeing’s new aircraft have slowed down. Taiwan based China Airlines announced plans to order four 777-8Fs last month, with deliveries expected from 2029.
But before China Airlines’ order, the last confirmed order came from Silkway West in November 2021.
