Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines has taken delivery of a custom gold-painted Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in Toulouse, France, ahead of scheduled commercial flights in October.
The aircraft departed from Toulouse on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 12:27 p.m. local time. It landed the following morning on Sunday, August 16, at Taiwan-Taoyuan International Airport, where the airline is based.
The delivery marks the second custom aircraft handed over to the carrier in recent weeks. Starlux Airlines previously took delivery of a silver version of the A350 in Colomiers, located in the Haute-Garonne department of southwestern France, on July 3.
Starlux Airlines is an international airline based in Taiwan that operates long-haul passenger services across Asia and North America. Aircraft manufacturer Airbus builds the A350 series at its assembly facilities in the Toulouse aviation hub, producing wide-body twin-engine jetliners designed for long-range global travel.
Custom reflective five-layer gold finish
The aircraft features a specialized five-layer gold coating designed to reflect light and produce a high-gloss visual effect on airport tarmacs. Coating specialist Mankiewicz Coatings created the exterior finish by mixing mica particles coated in metallic oxide directly into the gold paint layer.
Starlux Airlines commissioned Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama to design the exterior livery for both the gold aircraft and the earlier silver model. Sorayama is an illustrator and artist known globally for his detailed sculptures depicting chrome female robots.
The collaborative design effort was designated as project "AirSorayama." The initiative aimed to transform both long-haul jetliners into flying works of art that stand out on airport ramps during international operations.
Mankiewicz Coatings is a major aviation and industrial paint supplier headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, that produces technical exterior coatings for commercial aerospace manufacturers. Sorayama has established international acclaim through decades of hyper-realistic metallic artwork, commercial illustrations, and high-fashion artistic collaborations.
Four travel classes designed by BMW Designworks
Inside the cabin, the layout provides accommodation for 350 passengers across four separate travel classes. Creative agency BMW Designworks created the cabin environment to deliver a plush, high-end atmosphere for passengers on long-distance flights.
At the front of the aircraft, the first-class cabin consists of four private suites. Located directly behind first class, the business class section offers space for 40 passengers.
The premium economy cabin contains 36 seats configured in an eight-abreast 2-4-2 seating layout. Main economy class accommodates 270 passengers with seats arranged in a nine-abreast 3-3-3 cabin configuration.
BMW Designworks operates as the global design consultancy subsidiary of German vehicle manufacturer BMW Group, providing industrial design services for aviation, marine, and architectural projects. The A350-1000 variant is the largest passenger model in the Airbus A350 family, offering an extended fuselage and higher payload capacity compared to smaller variants.
International promotional tour and regular routes
Before launching regular passenger flights, the gold jetliner will participate in an international promotional exhibition tour. Starlux Airlines organized the promotional flights to showcase the new aircraft and increase global brand recognition ahead of its commercial debut.
The promotional schedule begins with a scheduled arrival in Tokyo, Japan, on August 20. The aircraft will travel to Bangkok, Thailand, six days later on August 26, before completing the exhibition tour in Prague, Czech Republic, on September 1.
Starlux Airlines plans to launch regular commercial operations with the gold A350-1000 starting October 1, 2026. The aircraft will operate from Taiwan to three initial international destinations: Tokyo in Japan, Phoenix in the United States, and Prague in the Czech Republic.
Taiwan-Taoyuan International Airport is the primary international airport serving northern Taiwan and the city of Taipei, serving as the hub for major Taiwanese airlines. Expanding service to major international destinations in Asia, Europe, and North America forms a key element of Starlux Airlines' long-haul network strategy.
