- Order includes purchase rights for an additional four airplanes

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

"The 777-300ER is the flagship of our long-haul fleet and will play an important role in growing our global operations," said Chang Kuo-wei, president of EVA Air. "The highly efficient, technologically advanced airplane will enhance the premium flying experience for passengers and will also allow us to open new destinations around the world."

The Taiwan-based carrier is in the midst of growing its airplane fleet to increase frequency to mainland China and new destinations in North Asia. The new airplanes will help the airline position itself as the preferred premium airline in Taiwan.

"We are honored EVA Air has again chosen the 777-300ER to expand its long-haul fleet," said Ray Conner, senior vice president of Sales and Customer Support, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "EVA Air was a launch customer for the 777-300ER in 2000 and today the airline is among the leading global airlines operating out of Asia."

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

The Boeing 777 is the world's most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane. It is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat. The 777-300ER seats up to 365 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km).

TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/

Further Alliance Expansion in Asia

Taipei, Taiwan - Star Alliance announced today that its Chief Executive Board (CEB) has unanimously accepted the membership application of EVA Air. This decision underscores the Alliance's long term strategy of seeking network growth and providing access to new regions which show strong economic potential and development.

“EVA Air is a very good fit for Star Alliance as the airline will add many new routes to our global network, with a specific focus on the growing Far East aviation market. This will increase the choice for our customers and is in line with our mission of being the leading global airline alliance for the international traveller”, said Mark Schwab, CEO Star Alliance.

Since its founding nearly 15 years ago, Star Alliance has progressively built its presence in Asia/Pacific and will have eight member carriers based in this region by mid-2013.

Through its future membership in Star Alliance, EVA Air will be able to offer its customers access to a global network, along with seamless travel and status recognition within the various member carrier frequent flyer programmes.

“After careful evaluation we concluded that Star Alliance offers the best match for EVA Air. Our networks complement each other and we will expand the existing Alliance flight options in the growing cross-straits market. We look forward to significant synergy in both service enhancement and expansion of our customer base. In addition, our partnership with Air China makes the Star Alliance especially attractive to us”, said James Jeng, Chairman, EVA Air.

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 around 60 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, is 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.

Lufthansa, 29.03.12