EVA takes Hello Kitty Jet to Paris

PARIS - EVA Air’s Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand Jet arrived in Paris on 30 Oct., 2014. Officials representing Charles de Gaulle Airport, Taiwan and SANRIO joined EVA Air Chairman K.W. Chang, passengers and costumed, larger-than-life Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel characters to celebrate the new Hello Kitty Jet service in a launch ceremony at the airport. EVA Chairman Chang, a pilot certified to fly Boeing 777s who has earned the rank of captain, flew the cheerfully painted aircraft from Paris to Taipei.

EVA initiated its innovative Hello Kitty Jets to make flying fun. The airline’s creativity has been rewarded with enthusiastic passenger response at every gateway where it has flown the colorfully painted aircraft, including regional routes within Asia and trans-Pacific to Los Angeles.

EVA started the Paris-Taipei service in 1993 with one stop in Bangkok. In 2001, it began flying nonstop to Taipei where passengers can make easy, one-stop connections onward to destinations throughout Asia, including Mainland China, Vietnam, Cambodia and more.

The Boeing 777-300ER Hand-in-Hand Jet is the airline’s first long-range Hello Kitty-themed aircraft. It is configured with three cabins, including 38 seats in Royal Laurel Class business, 64 in Elite premium economy and 211 in Economy. The colorful display of 19 Sanrio characters, joining hands the entire length of the aircraft, has been designed to bridge cultural barriers and invite new friendships from around the world. This is the first time Sanrio has featured characters with the familiar Hello Kitty that are not typically depicted among her family and friends.

EVA and Sanrio worked together to launch the first generation of Hello Kitty Jets in 2005 and 2006. Starting in 2011, the two companies began developing their second generation of EVA Hello Kitty Jets. EVA operates five shorter-range versions of the aircraft on regional flights from Taiwan to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Mainland China and Guam. Each with its own unique theme, the specially painted aircraft include the EVA Hello Kitty Magic, Apple, Global, Happy Music and Speed Puff Jets.

The airline operated three Hello Kitty flights a week on its Taipei – Los Angeles route for a year while fans in Europe persistently asked for opportunities to experience the exclusive aircraft. EVA chose Paris as its first stop in Europe, not only to attract more European passengers to Taiwan but also to demonstrate the importance of the route.

The EVA Hello Kitty Jet experience begins at airport check-in with themed boarding passes and baggage stickers. Onboard, the cabin crew wears pink aprons that have Hello Kitty designs and passengers use more than 100 in-flight service items decorated with the irresistible characters. Items include Hello Kitty headrest covers, pillows, tissue, hand cream, hand-washing liquid, napkins, paper cups, utensils, snacks and meals. EVA developed new inflight service-item designs and created a unique selection of limited-edition Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand Jet duty-free products especially for passengers onboard the aircraft.

EVA operates the Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand Jet on three of its four weekly Paris flights as BR88 from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Return flight BR87 flies TPE - CDG on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia