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Serving 46 destinations on four continents with a fleet of 52 aircraft, Taiwan-based EVA Airlines ranks as one of Asia’s leading long-haul and regional carriers. With an excellent safety record—no fatal accidents since it began operation in 1991—and one of the youngest fleets (average age 7.8 years) in the industry, EVA prides itself on reliability and innovation as it strives to excel in one of the most competitive markets in the world.
EVA is currently in the midst of a major upgrade following its $1.49 billion purchase in 2004 of 12 Boeing 777-300ERs. These new wide-bodied aircraft with streamlined cabins, ergonomic seats and upgraded amenities give passengers a three-cabin, state-of-the-art alternative to EVA’s four-class 747-400s currently in service on most trans-Pacific flights.
EVA maintains a strong presence in the U.S. market with its present schedule highlighted by 17 roundtrips a week between Los Angeles and Taipei plus 12 flights weekly from San Francisco. It also services the east coast five times a week with Newark-Seattle-Taipei flights and there is additional twice-a-week service from Seattle-Taipei (with a third Seattle-Taipei flight to be added this September). There are also five weekly flights to Taipei from Vancouver. While there will just be two of the new aircraft deployed in the United States by the end of 2006, EVA will add four more B777-300ERs on flights to the U.S. destinations next year replacing 747-400s. By 2009 all of its U.S. and Canadian flights will be on B777-300ERs.
Following the debut of its first two B777-300ERs in July 2005 on flights from London to Taipei, EVA’s newest B-777-300ER were introduced in North America at the end of July on the Los Angeles-Taipei route. There are two B-777 flights a week with the Los Angeles-Taipei flight departing LAX at 1:20 a.m. and arriving in Taipei at 5:30 a.m. one day later, while the Taipei to LAX flight leaves at 11:55 p.m. and arrives at LAX at 9:00 p.m. the same day. A second B777-300ER will begin flying from LAX-Taipei in November.
These new Boeings carry a maximum of 316 passengers in three cabin classes: Premium Laurel, Elite and Economy. All three classes on the B777-300ER are outfitted with individual audio/video on-demand entertainment systems featuring a wide selection of movies, features, news, music and video games, and also come with an air-to-ground short message service.
Out of LAX, you will also find EVA's B747-400s, which alternate schedules with the new B777-300ERs and offer four classes of service: Super First, Super Business, Evergreen Deluxe, and Economy.
Top of the Line
For road warriors seeking the ultimate creature comforts, top-of-the line Premium Laurel Class is definitely the way to go. The roomy cabin is equipped with hard-shell ergonomic seats configured in a 2-2-2 arrangement where passengers can create their own private spaces by pulling out the screen divider between the seats. The “user-friendly” electronic controls are easy to operate and allow passengers to recline their seats (61-inch pitch) to horizontal for sleeping—each seat can be adjusted to provide comfort and support for the lower back while the adjustable headrest provides maximum neck support.
Premium Laurel Class passengers also receive a feather quilt and pillow plus use of noise-canceling headphones. They also have access to an exclusive beverage bar stocked with red and white wines, sodas, mineral water and an array of snacks. The bar’s innovative lighting system can create various atmospheres—sunrise, sunset or starry night—to enhance the mood.
Check with EVA's Web site (http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/) for prices as they vary with season and route.
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