STARLUX’s stunning AIRSORAYAMA SILVER Airbus A350 lands in Taiwan
STARLUX Airlines’ striking AIRSORAYAMA SILVER Airbus A350-1000 has arrived in Taiwan after its delivery flight from Toulouse, marking the debut of one of the most technically complex airline liveries ever applied to a commercial aircraft.
The aircraft, registered B-58553, touched down at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport after being personally flown home by STARLUX founder and chairman Chang Kuo-wei, following its handover at Airbus’ delivery centre in France.
STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA SILVER が台湾桃園国際空港に到着🛬 張会長自らの操縦で、当社3機目となる #A350_1000 B-58553を新たな故郷・台北へと導きました🩶
— STARLUX Airlines Japan (@starluxjapan) July 5, 2026
「STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA」は航空とアートが融合する新たな挑戦の幕開けです。今後の展開にもご期待ください🌟#STARLUX #AIRSORAYAMA pic.twitter.com/RzrFN15OGb
The airline shared footage of the aircraft’s arrival on its Japanese social media channels, where the mirror-like metallic finish shimmered in the Taiwanese sunshine.
A three-year collaboration to create art with aviation
The AIRSORAYAMA project is the result of a three-year collaboration between STARLUX and acclaimed Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, whose hyper-realistic metallic robots and futuristic artwork have earned worldwide recognition.
Rather than creating a conventional promotional livery, the partners set out to transform two Airbus A350-1000s into what STARLUX describes as “flying masterpieces.”
The first aircraft is finished in Silver (B-58553), while a second Gold version (B-58554) will follow
According to STARLUX, the collaboration began after the airline learned of Sorayama’s long-held ambition to create the world’s largest artwork. Chairman Chang believed the artist’s exploration of metal, machinery and emotion aligned closely with the airline’s premium brand identity.
Custom colours developed with Pantone
The colour schemes for both aircraft were developed by STARLUX Airlines and global colour science firm PantoneThe AIRSORAYAMA aircraft showcases Sorayama’s iconic metallic “silver” and “gold” aesthetic in precision-engineered shades. It creates a fluid, liquid-metal effect that changes depth and tone with viewing angle and lighting conditions, transforming the fuselage into a visually striking object of art.
“This time we aren’t just tuning colour, we are tuning light,” said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Pantone Colour Institute in the airline’s announcement. “Through specialised formulation, all visible shimmer particles were removed to achieve an almost liquid smoothness. They embody future luxury—not the ostentation of traditional gold and silver, but a quiet confidence: precise, elegant, and technologically refined.”
Creating the defining metallic feature of the STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA aircraft required solving unprecedented technical challenges.
Airbus helped make the impossible paint scheme possible
Airbus worked alongside German coatings specialist Mankiewicz to develop precision-engineered metallic paints capable of reproducing Sorayama’s signature “liquid metal” aesthetic while meeting the demanding durability, weight and certification requirements for commercial aircraft.
Mica-based pigments produce a reflective metallic lustre while meeting rigorous commercial aviation standards. After extensive testing and validation, the paint’s exact formulation underwent more than 10 iterations before Sorayama approved the signature finishes of the AIRSORAYAMA Silver and Gold aircraft.
Once the exact colour formula was approved, engineers implemented a precision multi-layer coating process to apply the paint. A team of 16 specialists worked for over 20 days to complete the livery.
The special aircraft livery features:
- A highly reflective silver metallic fuselage
- Custom-designed AIRSORAYAMA branding
- Metallic gradients extending across the aircraft
The result transforms the A350 into a giant flying canvas that changes appearance depending on the surrounding light.
Sorayama: “A dream come true”
Speaking at the project’s unveiling earlier this year, Chairman Chang described aircraft as “the ultimate mechanical structure—rational, precise, inherently cold.” The goal of the livery was to create an aesthetic that infused the aircraft with emotion through Soryayama’s art.
“What we sought was to bring warmth and beauty into the flying experience,” Chairman Chang said. “Sorayama-sensei’s creations embody futurism and breathe emotion into the metal, mirroring the precision and care behind aviation itself. Together we have created something unprecedented—a flying masterpiece that carries emotions across the world.”
AIR × ART
— STARLUX Airlines Japan (@starluxjapan) January 27, 2026
空飛ぶマスターピース、幕開け。#STARLUX pic.twitter.com/0jgIu2itU9
Sorayama said: “With STARLUX’s full technical support and my insistence on aesthetics, the collaboration was powerful. Designing the Airbus A350-1000 as my canvas is a dream come true, and together we have created a truly distinctive ‘flying masterpiece’ that I hope will inspire the world.”
The artwork extends beyond the aircraft, with exclusive onboard amenities, dedicated safety videos and limited-edition merchandise planned as part of the AIRSORAYAMA collection.
The second of 18 A350-1000s
The AIRSORAYAMA SILVER aircraft is STARLUX’s second Airbus A350-1000 and forms part of a rapidly expanding long-haul fleet.
The Taiwanese premium carrier has 18 A350-1000s on order, following an additional commitment announced at the 2025 Paris Air Show.
The aircraft are configured with:
- Four First Class suites
- 40 Business Class seats
- 36 Premium Economy seats
- 270 Economy seats
The fleet will support STARLUX’s planned expansion into North America, Europe and Oceania.
