Leather in Economy & Narrow-Body Lie Flat Seats on Taiwan’s New Luxury Airline
Taylor Rains October 13, 2019
As old airlines fall, new ones arise. The birth of Taiwan’s newest airline, Starlux, will enter the market in January 2020.
Starlux Airlines has been developed by former EVA Air Chairman and 777 pilot, Chang Kuo-wei. Kuo-wei left EVA Air after a fiery battle for power arose after his father, who was the founder of the Evergreen Group (EVA Air’s parent company), passed away. Since his departure in 2016, he has been working on Starlux and his vision is finally coming to fruition.
As of now, the carrier has 10 Airbus 321neos on order, the first to be delivered in time to operate its first flight in January. The other nine will be delivered by 2021. Starlux also has 17 Airbus 350s on order, five 350-900s to start delivery in 2021 and twelve 350-1000s to start delivery in 2024.
Starlux plans to start its operations with three routes from Taipei to Da Nang, Macau, and Penang, with hopes to expand internationally with its A350s. With these new flights come a brand new, fancy cabin with all the bells and whistles attached. Business class will have lay flat seats, uncommon for narrow-body jets, and economy seats will sport leather headrests and USB ports. Both will offer passengers free wifi and an entertainment system.
Starlux Airlines is branding itself as a luxury airline hoping to join the ranks of Singapore Airlines and Emirates. Their slogan is “Born to be luxury, shining like stars” and they even have their own fragrance called “Home in the Air”. I look forward to seeing Starlux’s final product.
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They have to hope the Asian markets will hold up in the next recession that will affect the Western World. That recession is well signposted and will be seen more clearly in 2020. I wish them luck, of course, but they are going in with a truly massive order.