Taiwanese start-up Starlux Airlines aims to receive its air operator’s certificate in the fourth quarter of the year, and to launch operations thereafter in January 2020.
The carrier tells FlightGlobal that it expects to take delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A321, in October. It will have three jets when it launches operations.
It has not determined its first destination, although it has said that its network will initially focus on points in Northeast and Southeast Asia.
“Everything is progressing as planned,” the airline says, adding that it is working on hiring cabin crew and pilot training.
The airline has signed for the lease of 10 A321s, and has also committed to taking 17 A350s, including the -1000 variant, giving it a fleet of 27 aircraft in 2024. Its first A350 will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2021.
It is positioning itself as a premium carrier, focusing on “safety, comfort and convenience”.
Starlux was founded by former EVA Air chairman Chang Kuo-wei, who was ousted from the airline shortly after the death of his father, the founder of Evergreen Group, in 2016.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
