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.
“Star Alliance has since its inception had a strong presence in Asia / Pacific. With the addition of EVA Air to our existing combinations of member carriers and hubs, we further cement our position of providing the strongest network on an international scale to, from and within this ever growing region. We are looking forward to welcoming new customers from Taiwan and serving more travellers on the expanding Cross-Straits market”, Schwab said.
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.”
Ms. Wang Yingxiang, Vice Chairman of Air China Group said: "On behalf of Air China I wish to congratulate EVA Air on their Star Alliance membership.
This will enable the airline to further enhance its brand value, social influence and operations. EVA Air will add new strength into the Star Alliance network, expanding its network to Taiwan and offering travellers more convenience and choice".
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.
EVA Air now offers through check-in to the final destination for connecting flights operated by any Star Alliance member airline for both passengers and baggage, hence providing seamless travel. Passengers benefit as they do not need to collect their boarding passes for connecting flights at the transfer airports and, where permitted by local customs regulations, baggage will also be sent through to the final destinations.
Members in EVA Air Infinity MileageLands Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) will now be able to collect and redeem miles on all Star Alliance member airlines. MileageLands Diamond and Gold Card holders now enjoy Star Alliance Gold Status which entitles customers to such privileges as access to more than 1,000 lounges across the globe, extra baggage allowance on all Star Alliance member airlines as well as priority baggage delivery.
FFP members from all other Star Alliance member airlines can also now make use of these when travelling on EVA Air.
As part of their Star Alliance membership, EVA Air now participates in several of the Alliance’s fare products. For the business travel sector, EVA Air flights can be included in Star Alliance Corporate Plus agreements which are aimed at large multinational companies. With foreign trade driving Taiwanese industrial growth for the last 40 years, many multinational companies are based on the island nation. For the Conventions and Meetings market, EVA Air now offers Star Alliance Conventions Plus and Meetings Plus, the dedicated products for the meetings and conventions industry, which holds more than 200 events in Taiwan per year. EVA Air also boosts the attractiveness of the Alliance’s most popular fare product, the Star Alliance Round the World Fare (RTW). Available in First, Business and Economy Class, this fare allows customers to travel around the globe making use of the 28 member airline network. Customers can now make use of all EVA Air flights when booking their RTW fare, either through the Book & Fly online booking tool*, via an airline or through a travel agency.
With Taiwan forming part of the Pacific Rim, EVA Air now offers the Star Alliance Circle Pacific Fare which allows circular round-trips covering the Asian countries bordering the Pacific, the main international hub airports on the Pacific Coast of Canada and the USA, as well as the South Pacific (mainly Australia and New Zealand).
Last but not least, EVA Air is now included in the Asia Airpass alongside all other Asia based Star Alliance member airlines. This special coupon and mileage based fare is available to all overseas visitors to the region travelling on a Star Alliance member airline and allows customers to travel around Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam).
*Note: Book & Fly will be updated with all EVA Air flights during the month of July.
