Airbus has announced that STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has placed a firm order with the European-based planemaker for an additional five A350F freighters. This supplementary order doubles an initial order placed by the Taipei-based carrier in February 2024 for an initial five A350Fs. All of the ten freighters on order will be operated by the company’s dedicated freight division, STARLUX Cargo, on “some of the world’s busiest freight routes,” according to the carrier.

The yet-to-be-certified A350F, based on the A350-900 passenger variant of the widebody family of jets, will carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and offer a range of 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km). With its pair of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, Airbus claims that the A350F will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40% when compared to previous generation aircraft with a similar payload-range capability, Additionally, the A350F will also be the only freighter aircraft that will fully meet ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards, coming into effect in 2027, Airbus adds.

“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 Airlines’ CEO 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.”

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