Starlux Airlines Expands Cargo Ambitions with Additional Airbus A350F Order

It’s exciting to see a relatively young airline like Taiwan’s Starlux making moves in the cargo space.

The announcement today that Starlux has doubled its Airbus A350F freighter order to ten aircraft is a clear signal of its growing ambitions in the air cargo market.

A Leap into Air Cargo

Starlux’s decision to expand its freighter fleet comes just one year after it placed its initial order for five A350Fs. By exercising its options for five more, the airline is doubling down on its commitment to cargo operations.

Taiwan’s geographical location is a natural advantage.

Positioned at the crossroads of major Asia-Pacific trade routes, the island is perfectly placed to serve as a logistics hub. Starlux seems intent on leveraging this, and the A350F freighters will be key to that strategy.

These aircraft, with their 111-tonne payload capacity and 8,700-kilometer range, are well-suited for long-haul operations connecting Asia with Europe and North America.

Why the Airbus A350F?

The A350F is an interesting choice and one that makes a lot of sense for Starlux.

For starters, it’s a modern aircraft designed with efficiency in mind. Airbus touts up to 40% reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to older freighters like the Boeing 747F.

Another advantage is fleet commonality.

Starlux already operates an all-Airbus passenger fleet, including A321neos, A330neos, and A350-900s. Adding the A350F means operational synergies—pilots, maintenance crews, and spare parts can be shared across the fleet.

This reduces costs and simplifies operations, which is critical for a growing airline.

Timing Is Everything

The timing of this move is no coincidence. The global air cargo market has been on a rollercoaster ride over the past few years, driven by e-commerce growth and supply chain disruptions.

While demand has cooled slightly from pandemic highs, long-term forecasts remain strong. Airbus itself projects steady growth in air cargo traffic at an annual rate of 3.2% through 2042.

Starlux seems to be playing the long game here. By committing to freighters now—with deliveries expected from 2027—it’s positioning itself to capture future growth in high-value cargo segments like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce.

Challenges Ahead

Of course, entering the cargo market isn’t without challenges.

Starlux will need to build out infrastructure like warehouses and ground handling capabilities while competing with established players like China Airlines and EVA Air.

But with its modern fleet and focus on efficiency, Starlux has a solid foundation to work from.

Looking Forward

This latest order cements Starlux’s transformation from a boutique passenger carrier into a more diversified airline with ambitions beyond Taiwan’s borders.

It’s still early days for Starlux Cargo, but if executed well, this could be a rightmove—not just for the airline but for Taiwan’s role in global logistics.