Starlux Airlines, based in Taiwan, is preparing to launch long-range international flights utilizing their brand-new Airbus A350 aircraft. The inaugural route is set to commence on April 26, connecting Taipei with Los Angeles directly.
Following this, the airline plans to expand its presence on the US west coast and is also considering adding popular European cities to its list of destinations as its fleet grows in the upcoming years.
It’s important to note that our focus lies on the Starlux A350 business class seat and other essential elements of the business class experience. We will not delve into route-specific details such as meals, as these are subject to change once the A350 concludes its short regional flights in April and transitions to dedicated long-range services.
The Starlux Airbus A350
The cutting-edge A350 twin-jet will be at the forefront of Starlux’s ambitious long-range growth plans. Starlux might become a significant worldwide airline, moving it up from a regional boutique player thanks to this extraordinary aircraft. It puts Starlux in a strong position to take on regional rivals China Airlines and EVA Air.
Starlux’s possible membership in the Oneworld coalition (while its rivals are members of SkyTeam and Star coalition) gives its approach a new wrinkle.
Numerous improvements to the Starlux A350’s cabin, including some world premieres, are available. For instance, comparable to the Boeing 787, the windows can be quickly dimmed with a single button press.
The Starlux A350 differs from the Boeing Dreamliner in that its windows are completely black, unlike the latter’s distinctive deep blue color. This function was extremely useful during our flight in the afternoon sun.
The window dimming feature is also incredibly quick, switching smoothly from completely black to transparent or vice versa in seconds. This enhances the guests’ overall feeling of comfort and convenience while traveling.
Starlux, known for their fondness for intriguing partnerships, has partnered with BMW Designworks once more to furnish the A350’s cabin with a posh atmosphere. The design has a very luxurious and homey sense because to its simple lines and well-selected color scheme, which includes highlights in warm brown, dark grey, and champagne gold.
The addition of embedded micro-LEDs in the bulkhead panels, another world-first innovation, distinguishes the interior. Similar to luminous “smart wallpaper,” these LEDs enable for programmable and gently dynamic lighting patterns.
This outstanding feature improves the ambience and harmonizes beautifully with the LED color schemes and the painstakingly designed cabin interior. It is a welcome change from the usual, uninspired watercolor patterns frequently seen on bulkhead walls.
Less obvious is that the Starlux A350’s cabin is a little wider than average; Airbus improved the newest A350s to add four inches because of slightly straighter sculptured walls and higher-density insulating material behind them.
Starlux A350 business class
Starlux has chosen to be the launch customer for the new Elements product created by Collins Aerospace rather than just transferring its highly praised A330neo business class seat to the A350.
A new iteration of the well-known Super Diamond seat is now available thanks to this partnership with Collins Aerospace, which also developed the micro-LED bulkhead walls. The Elements seat will also be available in future Boeing 787-9 Etihad operations.
The business class suite on Elements is remarkably roomy and expertly constructed. Notably, compared to its Super Diamond predecessor, there is a discernible increase in space.
The suite assures seclusion even before you close the sliding door, which has become a popular feature in contemporary business-class cabins, and provides enough of legroom beneath the spectacular 24-inch 4K monitor.
The sofa itself is surrounded by tastefully curved 48.5cm (19″) walls that are capped with what Collins refers to as a “halo” lip that curves inward, adding to the suite’s cozy, cocoon-like atmosphere.
We strongly advise using the “Zero G” function if you want to unwind in flight without converting your seat into a flatbed. The seat converts into an extended W-shape with only a touch on the control panel, which we found perfect for activities like reading or watching a movie.
Three storage spaces are offered in the Elements suite of the Starlux A350’s business class, including a prominent cabinet with various utilities. It makes sure that all of your needs are fulfilled with USB-A, USB-C, and AC power outlets in addition to a wireless charging pad and a mirror.
But if the suite has flaws, it would be the folding table. Even in mild disturbance, it tends to wobble excessively because it is supported by just one joist.
During the meal service, we saw this personally when our soup made a brave but futile attempt to escape the bowl. However, the counterbalance effect made the table much more stable while a laptop was used as a workstation.
Starlux might improve its assortment of in-flight entertainment (IFE), especially on long-haul flights. Only one episode of Stanley Tucci’s superb Searching for Italy series is now available, indicating a shortage of boxed TV series. We also observed the absence of entire content genres that the library may benefit from carrying.
You have the option to connect your own headphones or earbuds through Bluetooth and leave the offered noise-cancelling headphones in the storage cabinet, following the pattern found in many airlines.
The Starlux A350’s satellite WiFi connection, complimentary in business and first class, provides streaming video with little to no buffering, delivering a seamless and uninterrupted experience. Additionally, it is ideal for routine online browsing, email, and social media tasks.
You can send and receive unlimited free texts in premium economy and economy class using well-known messaging services, including Facebook Messenger, Apple iMessage, WhatsApp, and Line. Throughout your flight, this feature enables limitless communication with friends and family.
Starlux A350 first class
If you are interested in the Starlux A350’s first-class service, it enhances the already excellent business class offering.
Despite not being in a separate cabin, the four first class suites are prominently situated in Row 1 directly before the business class section.
These roomy first class suites on the Starlux A350 have a larger footprint, taller walls that reach 60″ (1.5m), and a larger personal video screen that measures 32″.
The amenities available to first class passengers include a personal mini-bar, a coat closet, and plenty of luggage storage. Even while the strategy is more comparable to “business plus,” Starlux’s choice to offer first class on its A350s distinguishes it from rivals like China Airlines and Eva Air, who recently phased out first class. This action demonstrates Starlux’s dedication to providing a first-rate travel encounter with a dash of exclusivity.
Summary
The Starlux A350 was built with extreme care and attention to every last detail, right down to the toilet paper with the airline’s logo.
Starlux has clearly raised the standard for its competitors with its A350 business class, showing a strong desire to leave a lasting impression in the fiercely competitive aviation market. By doing this, the airline has raised the bar for the sector and proven its dedication to excellence and innovation.
