EVA expanding Japan service network, introducing Okayama and Asahikawa flights

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - EVA Air is introducing more flights between Taipei and Japan, expanding its network in Northeast Asia. It launched service from Taipei to Okayama on April 3, 2013 and will add Asahikawa as a destination on May 2. It will also increase frequency on its regular Taipei-Hakodate route from two to four flights a week on May 1. With these additions, EVA will be serving 11 destinations in Japan from Taiwan with 67 flights a week. Information and schedules are available on the EVA website.

EVA flies its new Taipei-Okayama route every Wednesday and Saturday, using a McDonnell Douglas MD-90. Often referred to as the sunny country because of its low rainfall, Okayama city and prefecture are located in Japan’s Chugoku region on the main island of Honshu. By high-speed rail or Shinkansen, Okayama is only 40 minutes south of Japan’s third-largest metropolis, Osaka. EVA passengers can easily fly into Okayama and depart Japan via the airline’s daily Osaka service or vice versa.

To both optimize resources and cultivate travel markets between Japan and Taiwan, EVA is operating the Okayama route as a regular, seasonal service from April through November and flying to Niigata, located in the middle of Honshu, December through March. The two regions offer distinct seasonal attractions.

In Okayama, visitors can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, family vacations in summer and gorgeous landscapes of autumn leaves in fall. During the winter months when EVA will suspend Okayama service and fly to Niigata, travelers from Taiwan can bask in hot springs, delight in snowy landscapes and ski. At the same time, Japanese travelers can take a break from winter and relax in Taiwan’s subtropical climate with delicious foods and scenic beauty.  

EVA’s added frequency on the Taipei-Hakodate route and introduction of Taipei-Asahikawa service are outcomes of its successful development of the Hokkaido market for the past 18 years. Located in central Hokkaido, Asahikawa is the second-largest city in the region and the coldest in Japan, making it a popular destination for skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts. The airline will operate an Airbus 330-200 on the route.

Including EVA’s daily Taipei-Sapporo operations, it will be offering more flights from Taiwan to Hokkaido and serving more destinations there than any other airline. EVA’s expanded operations will give both business and leisure passengers more flexibility and itinerary options, significantly reduce travel time and increase convenience for travelers to and from Japan’s northernmost island.

EVA’s Japan gateways include both Narita and Haneda airports in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Komatsu and Sendai, in addition to Okayama, Niigata, Osaka, Asahikawa, Hakodate and Sapporo. The airline’s routing within Asia is among the best in the airline industry. From gateways in Europe, Oceania and Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver in North America, passengers can make one stop in Taipei and easily connect onward to most major business and leisure destinations in Asia.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews