STARLUX Airlines Awards Rolls-Royce Engines Order for Freighter Fleet

Rolls-Royce agreed to supply STARUX Airlines with 10 Trent XWB-97 aero engines for installation on five Airbus A350F aircraft. This increases the company’s freighter fleet to ten units and makes STARLUX a large-scale purchaser of the A350F. Currently, the engine can operate on a 50% sustainable aviation fuel blend, with a planned compatibility for 100% SAF in the future.

“STARLUX Airlines has continuously nurtured the cargo market since its inception, capitalizing on the strategic advantages offered by Taiwan’s geographical location,” said Glenn Chai, CEO, STARLUX Airlines. “This acquisition of five more A350F freighters not only prepares us for the rapidly growing demand in the cargo market but also reflects our optimism about the potential of the international cargo market. The A350F is the most fuel-efficient freighter in the industry, meeting customer requirements to reduce carbon emissions, and is in line with STARLUX’s ESG plan to achieve zero emissions by 2050.”

Trent XWB-97

The Trent XWB-97 engine has recorded more than six service years and 3 million hours in the air across short- and long-haul flights, making it a serviceable, reliable, and durable option for passenger and freighter operations. Primarily due to its low-carbon nature and efficiency, the aero engine will allow STARLUX to fulfill its sustainability and decarbonization initiatives.

Trent XWB-97 aero engine; image credit: Rolls-Royce

“It’s been a pleasure collaborating with STARLUX Airlines and we’re delighted that they have opted for an additional five Trent XWB-97-powered Airbus A350F,” said Ewen McDonald, Chief Customer Officer, Rolls-Royce – Civil Aerospace. “We thank STARLUX Airlines for its continued confidence in our Trent engines. The engine will benefit from the £1 billion investment we’re making to the Trent engine family. We are proud to continue supporting the expansion of STARLUX Airlines and look forward to supporting these new aircraft as they enter into service.”

Rolls-Royce announced an investment of more than £1 billion in a program to improve its Trent engine portfolio: It will obtain technology packages to increase durability and double time-on-wing across all operations and in mission-critical environments.

Rolls-Royce Aero News

This week, EUROJET Turbo GmbH entered an agreement with the NATO Eurofighter & Tornado Management Agency to manufacture and deliver 59 EJ200 engines for the Spanish Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. The EJ200 engine is a product of Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines, ITP Aero, and Avio Aero, with Rolls-Royce handling the engine module production and assembly performed at the ITP Aero Facility in Ajalvir. These engines are scheduled for delivery starting in 2029 and will accelerate Spain’s Halcón acquisition project which intends to modernize its Air Force with 25 advanced aircrafts.

It maintains a high-performance record, multi-role capability, and high availability at manageable life-cycle costs, enabling the EJ200 to meet modern and anticipated Air Force requirements. Since 2003, over 1,400 EJ200 production engines have been delivered to Air Force customer fleets across nine nations, and the EJ200 engine has recorded more than 1.5 million flying hours.

In July 2024, Rolls-Royce signed a memorandum of understanding with Abra Group for five Trent XWB-84 engine-powered Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The A350-900 will be the largest aircraft operated by Abra Group, expanding its international operations and increasing capacity to satisfy growth and connectivity plans.