EVA launches its Okayama flights

EVA Air has announced the launch of flights to two new destinations in Japan.

Earlier this month, the Taiwanese carrier commenced direct services between Taipei and Okayama, in the southwest of Honshu Island. And from 2 May 2013, it will add another new route connecting Taipei with Asahikawa, on the northern island of Hokkaido.

The Okayama service operates twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays) using an MD-90 aircraft, while the Asahikawa flights will run three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) using an Airbus A330-200.

In addition, EVA will double the frequency of its Taipei-Hakodate service from two to four flights a week from 1 May 2013.

With these additions, EVA Air will be serve 11 destinations in Japan from Taiwan with 67 flights a week.

Scoot will fly a Boeing 777 to Seoul (photo by James Morgan)

Singapore-based low-cost carrier Scoot has announced that its next destination will be the South Korean capital, Seoul.

Flights to Incheon International Airport will commence on 29 May 2013, operating three times a week (Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays), with a stop in Taipei. Services will depart Singapore’s Changi airport at 1335, arriving in Seoul at 2235, following a one-hour stop at Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport. The return leg will leave Incheon airport at 2345, arriving back into Singapore ar 0645 the following day, again with a one-hour stop in Taiwan. Tickets will go on sale from 25 March 2013.

“Scoot is thrilled to be the first low-cost airline to fly between Singapore and Seoul, and between Taipei and Seoul… offering budget-conscious travellers great value airfares,” said Scoot’s CEO Campbell Wilson.

Flights will be operated using Scoot’s two-class, 402-seat Boeing 777 aircraft.

Millennium Vee Hotel Taichung

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (M&C) has launched its first ever branded hotel in Taiwan.

The Millennium Vee Hotel Taichung is a modern 24-storey tower in the centre of Taichung – Taiwan’s third largest city. It becomes the first hotel in Taiwan to offer 4G Wi-Fi services in all 237 guestrooms, and the first in Taichung to feature a rooftop sky bar. Other facilities at the new hotel include two restaurants, a fitness centre and spa, while MICE facilities include a grand ballroom and several multi-functional meeting rooms.

“The launch of Millennium Vee Taichung is a milestone for M&C. It marks the group’s first M&C-branded property in Taiwan, and will also see a strengthening of our position as a leading hotelier in Taiwan’s five-star hospitality sector,” said Lim Boon Kwee, M&C’s Senior Vice President for Asia. He added that the addition of 4G in guestrooms was a “game-changer”.

While the Millennium Vee Hotel Taichung becomes the first M&C-branded hotel in Taiwan, it does not mark the company’s entry into the country. M&C already owns the Grand Hyatt Taipei.

China Airlines is one of four carriers in the alliance

Four airlines from Greater China have joined forces in an effort to capture a greater share of the lucrative cross-Strait aviation market between mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and China Airlines – all of which are members of the SkyTeam alliance – have signed a deal to form the ‘Greater China Connection’, aimed at streamlining operations and boosting services for frequent flyers.

The four airlines will develop new products and marketing strategies targeting cross-Strait traffic, as well as expanding FFP membership privileges. Based on codeshare agreements, the programme allows passengers to purchase outbound tickets from any of the four airlines and then change their inbound or connecting tickets to flights of the other carriers. Frequent fliers will also be offered priority booking, check-in, security and passport clearance, boarding and baggage handling as well as access to 31 airline lounges operated by the four airlines in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The scope of the ‘Greater China Connection’ programme extends across more than 41 airports and more than weekly 270 cross-Strait flights – or half of the total capacity between mainland China and Taiwan.

CAL currently operates A330s on its long-haul routes

China Airlines (CAL) has announced plans to take delivery of 10 Boeing 777 aircraft.

The Taiwanese carrier will lease four new B777-300ER passenger aircraft from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), as well as purchasing six B777-300ERs direct from Boeing. Deliveries of both the leased and purchased aircraft will commence in 2014.

“The introduction of the 777-300ER into our fleet is another important step toward growing our global operations and enhancing our product offering,” said CAL’s President, Huang-Hsiang Sun.

The airline added that the new aircraft would feature new interiors that “will enhance the flying experience for passengers”, although no further details were revealed.

“China Airlines has been a valued Boeing customer for more than 50 years and we are honoured the airline has chosen the 777-300ER to expand its long-haul fleet,” said Ray Conner, President & CEO of Boeing’s commercial unit. “The introduction of the new 777-300ERs will provide China Airlines with new state-of-the-art cabin interiors, while adding improved airplane performance and economics to its long-haul fleet.”

The airline will use the new twin-aisle aircraft on its long-haul routes from Taipei’s Taoyuan airport to Europe and North America. The new aircraft will also mark the first ever B777s operated by CAL. The carrier currently flies a mix of B747s, Airbus A330s and A340s on its long-haul routes.

Wi-Fi services will be offered in all cabin classes

EVA Air has unveiled plans to offer mobile and Wi-Fi services on its long-haul flights.

The Taipei-based airline will equip seven brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with the technology from their delivery in 2014, enabling passengers to make and receive mobile phone calls and use the internet during flights. The new B777s, ordered in May 2012, will be fitted with Panasonic’s Android-based eX3 in-flight entertainment system and a Global Communications Suite (GCS), making them the first aircraft of their kind to combine both technologies on assembly.

Taiwan’s National Communications Commission has approved the GCS technology, which will operate on an independent frequency so as not to interfere with flight navigation communications.

“The Panasonic eX3 is a new and upgraded in-flight entertainment system that provides our passengers with a more user-friendly and visually inviting environment, complete with a high definition screen for watching films and feature programmes. It will be available to all our passengers, regardless of which cabin they book,” said EVA’s Executive Vice President for Public Relations, Nieh Kuo-wei.

EVA will also upgrade its IFE experience, with the addition of 16-inch touch-screen monitors in Royal Laurel business class cabins and 11.1-inch monitors in economy class.

The roll-out of the new services will make EVA the first Taiwanese airline to offer in-flight Wi-Fi.

Hawaiian Airlines yesterday announced plans to launch nonstop service between Taipei and Honolulu in July 2013, further extending the airline’s strategic expansion into Asia and paving a path for US bound tourists.

According to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the economic impact of restoring nonstop services from Taipei will be significant for the US island state.

“This new nonstop service connecting Taiwan and Honolulu following Taiwan’s entrance to the US Visa Waiver Program will help to expand the vastly growing the ‘Other’ Asia market,” commented Mike McCartney, President and CEO of the HTA.

“We anticipate reaching 10,642 visitors from Taiwan in 2012 and this new flight will help to further increase arrivals from this region.”

This optimistic forecast is based on the double-digit growth in tourist arrivals from Korea after non-stop services were established between Seoul and Honolulu when it too was included in the waiver programme.

Commenting on events, Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s President and CEO, said; “We have long known that there is demand for a Hawai‘i vacation in Taiwan, but visits have been impeded by the cost, complexity and time it has taken its citizens to apply for a US visitor visa. Now that Taiwan is part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, we are delighted to be adding Taipei as the latest city in Hawaiian’s growing Asia network.”

Hawaiian will operate the Taipei-Honolulu route three times per week using its new 294-seat, wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft, adding nearly 46,000 new air seats to the market annually to the benefit of Hawai‘i’s visitor industry.

As a result, Taipei will be the ninth new gateway that Hawaiian has introduced or announced new service to since November 2010, following Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo, Seoul, New York City, Brisbane, and Auckland, which launched on 13 March next year. 

TransAsia's first A330

TransAsia has taken delivery of its first wide-body aircraft – an Airbus A330-300.

The aircraft was handed over to the airline at a ceremony in Toulouse on Monday, attended by the Taiwanese carrier’s chairman, Vincent Lin.

The A330 – the first of two such aircraft ordered by TransAsia – is equipped with 300 seats in a two-class layout. Initially it will be deployed on services from Taipei to Japan and Singapore, with long-haul operations to destinations in Australasia and the Middle East also under consideration.

“The delivery of the A330 will further enhance our quality of service, as well as our passengers’ flight experience,” said Lin. “They will service TransAsia’s international routes, providing passengers a more comfortable journey with advanced in-flight entertainment technology and spacious seating.”

“We are pleased to welcome TransAsia Airways as a new operator of Airbus wide-body aircraft,” said John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer for Customers. “With the A330, TransAsia will benefit from the aircraft’s low operating costs, proven reliability and great passenger appeal – as well as high levels of technical commonality with its existing A320 family fleet.”

TransAsia Airways currently operates a fleet of 17 aircraft – nine ATRs, five A321s, four A320s and one A330. Aside the second A330, the airline also has outstanding orders for 12 A321neos, six A321s and eight ATRs.

Scoot's Boeing 777

Scoot has announced plans to add several extra flights during the festive season.

The Singapore-based low-cost carrier will offer supplementary services to Taipei, Gold Coast and Bangkok during December and early January. On the Singapore-Taipei route, Scoot will add three weekly flights (Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays) from 2 December to 1 January, while the Singapore-Bangkok route will see the addition of two extra flights on 4 and 6 January 2013.

On the Singapore-Gold Coast route, Scoot will add two more return services, departing Changi airport on 21 and 22 December.

“We’ve seen overwhelming interest in year-end travel on our flights to Taipei, Gold Coast and Bangkok, so what better way to celebrate the festive season with more seats?” Said Campbell Wilson, Scoot’s CEO.

All extra services will be operated using Scoot’s 402-seat Boeing 777-200 aircraft.

TransAsia has ordered six more A321s

TransAsia Airways has placed a firm order with Airbus for another six A321neo aircraft.

The latest order for the single-aisle jet marks the continuation of a major expansion strategy for the Taiwan-based airline, which will see it launch new routes to regional destinations, including key cities in Southeast Asia.

The A321neo is the fuel-efficient version of Airbus’ stretched narrow-body A320. TransAsia has now ordered a total of 29 A320 series aircraft, of which 11 have already been delivered and 18 – all A321s – will join later this decade. In addition, the airline has two twin-aisle A330-300s on order, with first delivery scheduled for later this year.

“The A321neo is a perfect fit for our strategy to grow efficiently in both domestic and regional markets and is the ideal solution to our fleet needs” said Vincent Lin, Chairman of TransAsia Airways. “With its wide cabin and outstanding fuel performance, the A321neo will bring new levels of comfort to our passengers whilst minimising our environmental footprint.”

“With the latest versions of the A321 TransAsia Airways will be operating the most modern and fuel-efficient aircraft in the 185- to 200-seat category,” said John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer for Customers. “The combination of low fuel burn and extended flying range from Taipei will position the airline well to meet its expansion plans across the fast-growing Asian market.”

TransAsia currently operates from Taipei to Singapore and Hanoi, but the airline’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, Andrew Stephen, said last year that the airline’s goal was to fly to every capital city in Southeast Asia.