Tag Archives: EVA Air

EVA Air joins the Star Alliance today

EVA Air (Taipei) today (June 18) joined the Star Alliance network, further strengthening the Alliance’s presence in Asia/Pacific. At the official joining ceremony held at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Mark Schwab, CEO Star Alliance said: “EVA Air has successfully completed all joining requirements and I can confirm that our Chief Executive Board (CEB) has now unanimously accepted EVA Air into our Alliance.”

Founded just over 16 years ago, Star Alliance has progressively built its presence in Asia/Pacific and now has eight member carriers based in this region, which continues to show a growing demand in air travel, posting 5.2% growth in 2012. At present, 19 Star Alliance member airlines operate more than 4,000 daily flights to, from and within the Asia / Pacific region, serving 280 airports in 44 countries.

Austin Cheng, President, EVA Air said: “Star Alliance membership gives us the privilege of serving new customers from all corners of the globe and introducing our passengers to the seamless services and status recognition that the Alliance provides. As a member, we have the opportunity to introduce travellers to new ways of connecting to destinations throughout Asia via our hub in Taipei.”

Star Alliance was founded with the mission of providing seamless global air travel for the high value international traveller. EVA Air’s customers will now have access to a global network of 28 airlines, operating more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,328 airports in 195 countries. In addition to bringing Kaohsiung in Taiwan and Surabaya in Indonesia as unique airports to the network, EVA Air expands the Alliance’s presence on the important Cross-Straits market, which has grown from an annual passenger volume of just over 3 million in 2009 to around 9 million in 2012. Moreover, Taiwan’s geographic location is such that it has the shortest average distance to all major cities in the Asia-Pacific region, making Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport an important hub in the region. In total, Star Alliance now offers 10 hubs across Asia / Pacific: Tokyo – Narita and Haneda, Seoul – Incheon, Beijing, Shanghai – Pudong, Taipei – Taoyuan, Shenzhen, Bangkok, Singapore and Auckland.

Top Copyright Photo: Star Alliance. The flight attendants (in their uniforms) of the member airlines welcome EVA Air at Taipei.

EVA Air:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Yuji Wang/AirlinersGallery.com. EVA Air is a big corporate sponsor of the Hello Kitty cartoon series and brand created and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. The third Hello Kitty logojet, in the form of Airbus A330-302X B-16333 (msn 1274) prepares to land at Shanghai (Hongqiao) (please click on the photo for the full-size view).

Star Alliance Members:

EVA Air becomes a new Airbus A321 operator

EVA Air (Taipei) of Taiwan has become a new operator of Airbus single aisle aircraft following the delivery today (October 31) of its first A321. The aircraft is being leased from Aviation Capital Group (ACG) and is the first of 12 A321s ordered by the US lessor. The aircraft was handed over at a ceremony in Hamburg attended by Chang Kuo Wei, President of EVA Air.

EVA currently plans to introduce 12 leased A321s into its fleet between now and end-2014 for operation on regional routes. The airline has specified a high comfort two class layout for the aircraft seating 184 passengers. EVA’s A321 fleet will be powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.

EVA Air plans to introduce the new A321 on November 10 on the Taipei (Taoyuan)-Macau route according to Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss. The first, the pictured Airbus A321-211 D-AVZD (msn 5354) at Hamburg (Finkenwerder), became B-16201 at today’s handover.

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EVA Air:

UNI Air takes delivery of its first new ATR 72-600

UNI Air (subsidiary of EVA Air) (Taipei) yesterday (September 27) accepted at Toulouse its first new ATR 72-600. The delivery of B-17001 (msn 1044) is the very first ATR 72-600 aircraft in the livery of an Asian carrier. This ATR 72-600 is expected to enter revenue service on October 11, with a commercial domestic flight from Taipei to Taidong.

With the introduction of its new fleet of 10 ATR 72-600s, UNI Air will progressively replace its fleet of Bombardier DHC-8-300 turboprops.

Since ATR launched the -600 series aircraft in late 2007, the newest ATR 72-600 has proven itself as the best-selling 70-seat regional aircraft worldwide, with some 240 orders since then. The ATR 72-600 received its EASA-certification in May 2011, thus becoming the world’s most-recently certified 70-seat regional aircraft. Among other improvements, it features the most modern avionics suite, equipped with full-glass cockpit specifically developed for ATR by Thales, and totally redesigned cabin interiors, by Italian designer Giugiaro.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot. B-17001 is pictured at Toulouse prior to the handover in the new livery reflecting its relationship with parent EVA Air.

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EVA Air unveils its fourth Airbus A330 Hello Kitty logojet today

EVA Air (Taipei) today (May 23) unveiled its fourth and latest “Hello Kitty” logojet on its Airbus A330-203 B-16311 (msn 693). B-16311 operated its first revenue service to Hong Kong this morning. B-16311 is likely to be called “Kitty loves music”.

On April 5, 2012 EVA Air announced it would begin serving two more gateways with its Hello Kitty jets on May 23, 2012. The airline will use two of its new character-themed Airbus A330-300s on its close-in Taipei Songshan – Tokyo Haneda and Songshan – Shanghai Hongqiao routes. EVA is also hard at work with Sanrio to give two Airbus 330-200s colorful Hello Kitty Jet makeovers, which will up the airline’s fleet of the cheerfully painted second-generation aircraft from three to five and enable more passengers to enjoy the themed flights. In addition, it has made Hello Kitty Jet information available in Japanese, Korean and English on its dedicated website at http://evakitty.evaair.com . EVA launched the website in Chinese in October 2011.

The airline unveiled the Magic Jet, Apple Jet and Global Jet late last year to enthusiastic response from passengers and fans worldwide. The first of the transformed A330-200s was introduced on May 23, 2012 and the second on June 22, 2012. During the one-month interval, the airline will temporarily serve its Taipei Taoyuan/Tokyo Narita (BR2198/2197) and Taipei Taoyuan/Hong Kong (BR857/858) routes with aircraft clad in standard EVA livery.

On the new Hello Kitty Jet route between Taipei Songshan and Tokyo Haneda, the themed aircraft will make two trips a day, flights BR192/BR191 and BR190/189. Hello Kitty Jet service from Songshan to Shanghai Hongqiao, flights BR772/771, will operate six times a week, excluding Tuesdays. With these additions, EVA’s Hello Kitty Jets will fly to two Taipei airports, Taoyuan and Songshan, two Tokyo airports, Narita and Haneda, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Shanghai’s Hongqiao, Guam, Seoul’s Incheon International Airport and Hong Kong.

Top and Bottom Copyright Photos: Manuel Negrerie.

Middle Copyright Photos: EVA Air.

EVA Air Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Hot New Photos Slide Show: CLICK HERE

EVA Air to add seven additional Boeing 777-300 ERs

EVA Air (Taipei) today (May 8) finalized an order for three additional Boeing 777-300 ERs (Extended Range) airplanes. The order also includes purchase rights for an additional four airplanes.

In addition to the Boeing order for three 777-300 ERs, EVA Air will also lease four 777-300 ERs from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), adding a total of seven new 777-300 ER airplanes to its long-haul twin-aisle fleet. EVA Air currently operates 15 777-300 ERs.

Delivery of the aircraft from GECAS’ existing order book with Boeing is scheduled for 2014.

GECAS currently leases 10 wide-body aircraft to EVA Air including six Airbus A330-200s and four Boeing 747-400SF freighters.

EVA Air Slide Show: CLICK HERE

EVA Air is accepted to join the Star Alliance

EVA Air (Taipei) and the Star Alliance have announced the Chief Executive Board (CEB) of the Star Alliance have unanimously accepted the membership application of EVA Air. According to the alliance, “this decision underscores the Alliance’s long term strategy of seeking network growth and providing access to new markets which show strong economic potential and development.”

The integration process will now begin, with the respective teams at EVA Air and Star Alliance commencing the work which needs to be completed before a new airline can join the Star Alliance network. Air China will be assisting in this process as the mentor airline.

EVA Air’s network of 62 destinations will add Kaohsiung in Taiwan and Surabaya in Indonesia as unique airports to the Star alliance network. In addition, Taiwan’s geographic location adds to the quality of the Star Alliance hubs in Asia, it has the shortest average distance to all major cities in the Asia-Pacific region. In total, the network of 30 airlines (the current 26 and four future members) will offer more than 22,000 daily flights to 1,345 destinations in 191 countries.

In other news, the company is planning to place an order for seven additional Boeing 777-300 ERs according to a report by Flightglobal.

EVA Air Slide Show: CLICK HERE

EVA Air introduces a new generation “Hello Kitty” logojet

EVA Air (Taipei) accepted this brand new Airbus A330-302X registered as B-16331 (msn 1254) on October 20, 2011. Following delivery , the airliner has been rolled out at the Taipei base in this new generation “Hello Kitty” special color scheme. Two additional Airbus A330-302X aircraft with two additional designs will also be introduced in the coming weeks.

Hello Kitty is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio, first designed by Yuko Shimizu. Hello Kitty is portrayed as a female white Japanese bobtail cat with a red bow. The character’s first appearance on an item, a vinyl coin purse, was introduced in Japan in 1974 and brought to the United States in 1976. The character is a staple of the kawaii segment of Japanese popular culture.

The Hello Kitty trademark has spread globally; Sanrio earned over $1 billion annually in sales outside of Japan, as of 2003. Although mainly aimed at the pre-adolescent female market, the Hello Kitty product range goes all the way from purses, stickers and pen sets to toasters, televisions, clothing, massagers, and computer equipment. It has a cult-like following among adults as well, especially in Asia, where Hello Kitty adorns cars, purses, jewelry and many other high-end consumer products. Several Hello Kitty TV series, targeted towards young children, have also been produced. Examples of products depicting the character include dolls, stickers, greeting cards, clothes, accessories, school supplies, dishes and home appliances. Her fame as a recurring Sanrio character has led to the creation of two officially licensed Hello Kitty theme parks, Harmonyland and the indoor Sanrio Puroland.

In October 2005, EVA Air launched a campaign with Japanese company Sanrio to create the original “Hello Kitty Jet,” featuring the popular Japanese character. Using an Airbus A330-200, the exterior adopted a livery of Hello Kitty characters. A year later, the airline launched a second Hello Kitty Jet. The aircraft featured a Hello Kitty motif on exterior and interior fittings and features. Both planes were used to serve Japanese destinations, and from mid–July 2007, also the Taipei-Hong Kong route. The original Hello Kitty livery was retired in 2009, but in 2011 EVA Air announced its return in a redesigned form to mark the carrier’s 20th anniversary and renew interest in Japanese tourism.

EVA Air Slide Show: CLICK HERE