Airways Magazine July 2024 | Page 37

AIRWAYS FEATURE EVA Air
5 6 8 Flight Attendant participate in a recurrent training at EVA Air ’ s sprawling training center , located outside of Taipei , Taiwan .
Alliance , the first Taiwanese airline to achieve such membership . The momentous step strengthened EVA Air ’ s global network and stepped up its collaborative efforts within the aviation industry .
In 2020 , the airline had to cope with the same impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as the rest of the aviation industry . Like its counterparts , EVA Air navigated through travel restrictions , border controls , and a drastic decline in passenger demand . As passenger-flight revenue fell by a staggering 93.6 % in the second quarter of 2020 , the airline resiliently adapted .
EVA Air used freighters to meet the market ’ s surging demand for deliveries , adjusted fleet dispatch and routes , and implemented pandemic prevention tasks . The reward : cargo revenues surged by 137 %.
In the fall of 2022 , EVA Air scripted a new chapter in its history by launching nonstop flights to Milan and Munich , a move toward attracting more travelers from Europe . The move was aimed at funneling passengers through EVA Air ’ s hub in Taiwan to destinations across Asia , charting a course for long-term development .
In March 2023 , EVA Air committed to further growth by ordering five additional Boeing 787- 9 aircraft . The airline also said it planned to reconfigure its 787-9s in mid-2024 to introduce Premium Economy Class , which was growing in popularity on other airlines .
This year , in an unprecedented turn of events , EVA Air placed an order with Airbus for 18 A350- 1000s and 15 single-aisle A321neos . The A350s are set to replace the oldest 777s in the airline ’ s fleet .
Today , EVA Air boasts a flawless safety record , with no flight fatalities or losses in its 21-year history .
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