TAIPEI- Taiwanese carrier, Eva Air (BR) recently celebrated its Airbus Order for 33 planes including 18 A350-1000 and 15 A321neo, which will help unlock new US destinations such as Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Boston Logan (BOS), and Washington Dulles (IAD).
Star Alliance member carrier currently serves around 48 international destinations across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. The majority of these destinations are in China and Japan.
Eva Air US Destinations
The delivery of the new Airbus A350-1000s will begin in the first quarter of 2027. General Manager Sun Jiaming announced these aircraft will strengthen the carrier’s long-haul operations, particularly on North American routes.
Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer highlighted the A350-1000’s superior position in long-haul aviation. The aircraft offers unmatched passenger comfort and environmental performance in its class, enabling EVA Air to elevate its international operations.
EVA Air aims to expand its North American presence by launching a new destination in its 2025 winter schedule, selecting from Boston, Washington, D.C., or Dallas and possibly of launching all three in phases.
Dallas presents operational advantages by minimizing Russian airspace usage compared to northeastern destinations.
The aircraft selection for DFW service centers on range and capacity requirements. While the Boeing 777-300ER (77W) offers superior premium cabin and cargo capacity, the Boeing 787-9 remains a viable alternative. The Boeing 787-10’s range limitations likely exclude it from consideration for this ultra-long-haul route.
Market observers note EVA Air’s network gap in Newark (EWR), where Star Alliance partnership benefits, including access to United’s Polaris and general lounges, remain untapped. The absence of direct Asian connections from Portland (PDX) creates additional market opportunities.
Industry analysts anticipate potential competitive responses, including American Airlines launching Taipei services or StarLux Airlines (JX) seeking oneWorld membership to operate Taipei-DFW flights.
Positive Outlook for 2024
The company maintains a positive outlook on passenger traffic for 2024, driven by strong outbound tourism demand. Cargo operations remain robust through the second quarter of this year, with air freight continuing to capture demand from ocean shipping.
Sun addressed concerns about the recent Boeing strike, noting minimal impact on 787 deliveries. However, the strike might affect the delivery schedule of 777F freighters.
The airline expects to receive its three-stage aircraft in the first quarter of next year, which will upgrade service on European routes to Milan, Munich, and Vienna, as well as Seattle in North America.
EVA Air General Manager Sun Jiaming advocates for government policy support regarding Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), highlighting the significant cost barrier as SAF prices exceed conventional aviation fuel by three to five times.
Sun points to Singapore’s approach, where airlines receive authorization to implement ticket surcharges to offset SAF costs. He emphasizes the need for similar governmental support in Taiwan to help the aviation industry manage the financial impact of transitioning to sustainable fuel options.
EVA Air has established ambitious environmental targets, planning to increase SAF usage to 10% of its fuel consumption by 2035 and 65% by 2050. These milestones align with the airline’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces carbon emissions by approximately 80% over its lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel. Current Airbus aircraft operate with up to 50% SAF, with plans to achieve 100% SAF compatibility across all models by 2030.
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