Taiwanese airline with $2,600 business class seats gets new plane with bigger luxury cabin

"Taiwanese airline Starlux is set to fly a new Airbus A350 variant that will expand its number of business-class seats by over 50%. The seven-year-old startup is introducing 18 new A350-1000s to its fleet, with the first delivered in January. Its A350-1000 configuration offers 40 business-class seats, up from 26 on Starlux's current A350-900s. The new aircraft adds 30 economy-class seats, bringing the total to 270 in coach."

"Starlux, which calls itself a 'boutique international airline,' aggressively ties its brand to the luxury aspects of flying. It's known regionally for selling business-class tickets on short and medium-haul flights at roughly $1,500. Some of its longer routes, such as San Francisco to Taipei, can offer regular round-trip business-class fares as low as $2,600. Since launching flights in 2020, the Taiwanese airline has increasingly leaned on premium seat offerings, a trend among full-service carriers as market prices for economy seats have generally fallen."

"The four first-class seats are in the same cabin as business class, with a 36-inch screen. These seats have no overhead luggage compartments; instead, they feature a personal closet for each passenger. They're lined with leather, while business class seats are made of fabric. There is no curtain or wall separating Starlux's business and first-class areas."

Starlux is introducing 18 Airbus A350-1000s to its fleet, with the first delivered in January. The A350-1000 increases business-class capacity to 40 seats, up from 26 on the A350-900, a rise of over 50%. The aircraft adds 30 economy seats for 270 total in coach while retaining 36 premium-economy seats and four first-class suites. The airline markets itself as a boutique international carrier and sells relatively affordable long-haul business-class fares. The four first-class seats share the same cabin as business class, include 36-inch screens and personal closets, and have leather finishes without overhead baggage bins.

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