© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Starlux flight attendants obtain emergency touchdown and slide trainings at their middle in Taoyuan, Taiwan April 12, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang
2/3
By Ben Blanchard
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s Starlux Airways Co Ltd is pushing Airbus SE (OTC:) to hurry up deliveries because it seeks to develop its routes past Asia to maintain up with booming post-pandemic demand, the service’s chief govt mentioned.
Starlux, Taiwan’s latest full-service airline, launched its first flights in 2020 and serves locations together with Tokyo, Bangkok, Macau, Hanoi and Singapore.
The all-Airbus operator competes in opposition to the island’s long-established carriers China Airways Ltd and Eva Airways Corp, that are increasing and updating their very own fleets with Boeing (NYSE:) Co 787s.
Starlux took supply of the primary of 18 A350s in October because it expands operations to long-haul routes from Taipei, beginning with Los Angeles subsequent week.
The airline, which additionally operates the A330neo, expects to obtain 5 widebody jets subsequent 12 months, however that isn’t sufficient to maintain tempo with robust post-pandemic demand, CEO Glenn Chai instructed Reuters on the firm’s headquarters in Taipei.
“Now we have been pushing Airbus to supply the plane as quickly as attainable, however their manufacturing price shouldn’t be ready in the mean time to return to pre-pandemic ranges,” he mentioned.
North America is the main target for now with Starlux launching San Francisco earlier than the top of the 12 months, Chai added. The airline is concentrating on transit passengers given the small dimension of its home market.
“New York is a should – it is the most important metropolis in North America, however it relies on plane deliveries,” he mentioned. “The headache for us is Airbus cannot hand them over.”
Airbus mentioned it was in “direct contact with all our clients” however declined to touch upon talks with particular person airways. The planemaker has reaffirmed manufacturing targets for 2024 and past.
Chai mentioned Starlux, which reported a web lack of T$5.3 billion ($173.75 million) final 12 months, aimed to have a fleet of 39 planes within the “first part” after which develop to 50, with Boeing Co jets a consideration relying on pricing.
“We welcome Boeing to participate within the worth citation course of,” he mentioned. “We completely usually are not ruling them out.”
Whereas its preliminary long-haul focus is on North America, it plans to ultimately fly to Europe and Australia, Chai added.
($1 = 30.5030 Taiwan {dollars})