Starlux Airlines Co (星宇航空) is nearing an order for almost a dozen Airbus SE wide-body jets in an about US$4 billion deal as it seeks to cement its push into long-haul services, people familiar with the matter said.
The carrier is leaning toward a top-up order for Airbus’ A350-1000, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private.
Starlux could make an announcement during this week’s Paris Air Show. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Photo: Bloomberg
Starlux chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said in an interview earlier this month that Starlux is always evaluating its plane needs, and has spoken to Airbus and Boeing Co about its requirements.
Starlux has an all-Airbus fleet of 28 planes, flying to destinations including Los Angeles, Tokyo, Singapore and Bangkok.
It already has eight A350-1000s on order, and an increased purchase would help plot its long-haul expansion as it eyes adding flights to Europe and the US east coast.
Taiwanese rivals China Airlines Ltd (中華航空) and EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) have also ordered Airbus’ largest twin-aisle wide-body plane in the past few months.
Starlux, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, operates 28 Airbus jets, with another 30 on order. The carrier last year doubled an order of A350 freighters to 10, becoming the largest customer for the planemaker’s new cargo variant of its most-advanced wide-body passenger aircraft.
The airline had planned to expand capacity by as much as 50 percent this year, but that is more likely to be closer to 20 to 30 percent, Chai said in an interview.
It has taken delivery of two A350-900s this year and is due to receive three more planes — an A350-1000 and two A330neos. That is four fewer than what it had initially planned to receive. Starlux expects delivery of 12 Airbus jets next year.
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