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Starting January 3, all EVA Airways flights from Taipei to Guam will be on Hello Kitty jets. In addition to carrying 57 extra passengers per flight, the jet will also be wrapped in Hello Kitty iconography, from wing to wing, cockpit to tail. These luxurious new aircraft are EVA’s A330-300s. Each one is configured with 30 seats in Premium Laurel Class and 279 seats in Economy Class.
Aside from Hello Kitty images on the plane’s exterior, guests will find the famous feline all over the aircraft, from seats and headrests to in-flight meals and flight attendant attire. These special “Hello Kitty Around the World” planes, launched to celebrate EVA Airways’ 20th anniversary, are new generation Hello Kitty aircraft -with special upgrades including better entertainment systems and cabin seats- and are also the last of the newly launched planes completing EVA’s fleet.
Having just joined the Taipei-Guam flight market in June 2011, EVA’s decision to start the year by dedicating these special aircraft to the Taipei-Guam flight route signals the airline’s further investment and expectations of the market, which has grown approximately 40% in the last fiscal year.
“We are so excited to welcome Hello Kitty to Guam,” said Guam Visitors Bureau General Manager Joann Camacho. “Guam truly has something to offer to everybody -human or feline- and we trust she will help us reach our goal of continuing to broaden the Taiwan market by attracting a new demographic.”
Looking forward, EVA Airways has expressed the goal of bringing 30,000 passengers from Taipei to Guam by the end of the 2012 calendar year. With Hello Kitty adding yet another unique element to Guam’s multi-faceted tourism offerings, this goal may not seem so lofty after all.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
