Starlux Airlines became the first carrier in Taiwan to operate Airbus’ next-generation long-haul A350-1000 aircraft with a maiden service from Taoyuan to Tokyo yesterday morning.
Before the departure of Flight JX802, Taiwan’s newest international carrier held a launch event with airline staff and passengers at Gate A8 in Terminal 1 of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
The aircraft received a water salute at the airport, a traditional aviation gesture used to commemorate milestone flights.
Photo courtesy of Starlux Airlines
Starlux said it had prepared exclusive commemorative souvenirs for inaugural-flight passengers, including limited-edition ribbons from aircraft manufacturer Airbus, lanyards and A350-1000 stickers.
According to Starlux, the A350-1000 is a new-generation long-range wide-body aircraft offering improved fuel efficiency, extended range and enhanced cabin comfort.
The aircraft has 350 seats, including four in first class, 40 in business class, 36 in premium economy and 270 in economy, it added.
Starlux said it plans to take delivery of six A350-1000s this year, which would be gradually deployed on more long-haul routes to provide passengers with a high-quality flying experience.
The A350-1000, produced by Airbus, features a longer fuselage than the A350-900 and can carry at least 40 more passengers.
Early last month, Starlux became the first airline in Taiwan to take delivery of an A350-1000.
Taiwan’s two other major international carriers, China Airlines and EVA Air, have also ordered 15 and 24 of the aircraft respectively.
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
GLOBALGIVING: ‘ Caving to external pressure is not acceptable for an organization that has cultivated justice reform and human rights for 30 years,’ one NGO said A slew of non-government organizations (NGOs) have withdrawn from the GlobalGiving fundraising platform after it announced it would use “Chinese Taipei” instead of “Taiwan” from next month. The Taiwan Good Rice Association wrote on Facebook on Friday that it was informed on April 28 via a teleconference call of the change, which was made because the platform wanted to operate in China. Taiwan Good Rice is to terminate all cooperative relationships with GlobalGiving in response to the platform’s “unilateral and non-negotiable” decision to remove references to Taiwan, the NGO said. “Taiwan is in the official name of Taiwan Good Rice Association and the
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) yesterday briefed her party’s Central Standing Committee regarding her scheduled visit to the US between Monday next week and June 16, saying that her purpose would be to persuade the US that the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution was a “one China” constitution that would foster stable and peaceful cross-strait relations. The ROC Constitution is the most important defense for all Taiwanese citizens, as it upholds our democracy and has contributed to our robust economy, which aligns with international and US interests, she said. “We would not be troublemakers and drag the US under,”
RSS