Starlux Airlines is launching a new Airbus A350-1000 with an expanded business-class cabin.
The Taiwanese airline is known for offering more affordable business-class seats on long-haul flights.
Business Insider took a look at the aircraft's interior at the Singapore Airshow.
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. The rest of its A350-1000 offerings are unchanged from the A350-900, with 36 premium economy seats and four first-class suites.
Starlux showcased its new plane at the Singapore Airshow this week, and Business Insider went aboard for a look.
The aircraft is the longest commercial A350 to date, which explains the additional seats.
Starlux Airlines
Starlux, which calls itself a 'boutique international airline,' aggressively ties its brand to the luxury aspects of flying.
Starlux's premium economy features eight seats per row.
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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.
Starlux's A350-100 features business-class seats that are largely the same as those on its A350-900.
Starlux is launching its first-ever flights from Taipei to the US on April 26.
Starlux Airlines
They're semi-private suites with a 24-inch screen and seats that can fully recline.
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The light under the passenger seat number changes from green to red when do-not-disturb mode is activated.
A sliding privacy door is configured from the outside.
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Cabin crew typically open and close the doors for passengers, but an emergency latch on the inside also allows the sliding panel to come loose.
The seats feature a 'Zero G' function inspired by NASA technology.
Starlux Airlines
Essentially, that means the seat elevates the head and feet over the rear for better posture, so the passenger's body resembles a "W."
An extra lamp provides ambient lighting in addition to the regular A350 ceiling bulbs and a reading light.
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Starlux's business class also features a cubby for charging and storing personal electronic devices.
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Like the A350-900, the new aircraft features windows that dim with the touch of a button.
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If a passenger has two windows next to their seat, they can dim the second with a remote.
The four first-class seats are in the same cabin as business class, with a 36-inch screen.
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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's A350-1000 offers a fairly standard economy-class seat for international airlines.
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In-flight entertainment is available for every seat, with an extendable screen for those sitting in the front rows.
A notable change from the A350-900: On the new aircraft, rows of economy-class seats aren't aligned.
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Chatting with a passenger across the aisle may prove more difficult on the A350-1000.
The new A350-1000 will first serve Starlux's Taiwan-Tokyo flights.
Starlux Airlines
The new plane is also scheduled to begin flying Starlux's Phoenix route this summer. Starlux flies to 31 destinations, with five routes to the US.