EVA Air Chairman K.W. Chang, a certified Boeing 777-300ER captain, piloted the airline’s first long-range Hello Kitty Jet on its first flight from Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport on Sept. 18.
The colorful aircraft was painted nose-to-tail to reflect its distinct Hello Kitty Jet theme and its cabin was outfitted with service items — including pillows, meals and seatback covers — depicting the adorable feline and her Sanrio friends.
Nine life-size Sanrio characters and Sanrio dancers performed and mingled with guests during the kick-off festivities. Hello Kitty was joined by Dear Daniel, Little Twin Stars Kiki and Lala, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Kuromi, Bad Badtz-Maru, and Keroppi. The aircraft was adorned with these characters and 10 more.
Also on hand for the celebration were Sanrio Executive Vice President/COO Kunihiko Tsuji, musician/songwriter Yoshiki Hayashi, and Hello Kitty head designer Yuko Yamaguchi.
Chang initiated the Hello Kitty Jet concept to make flying fun. Each of the five colorful shorter-range aircraft that EVA now operates within Asia has a different livery design — Hello Kitty Magic, Apple, Global, Happy Music and Speed Puff. EVA uses the aircraft on Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China and Guam flights.
On board, EVA offers more than 100 Hello Kitty-themed passenger-service items, such as tissue, hand-washing liquid, hand lotion, paper cups, utensils, and snacks.
EVA Hello Kitty Jet images and flight schedules are available on a dedicated website in Chinese, Korean, Japanese and English at http://evakitty.evaair.com.
EVA will use its latest Hello Kitty Jet three times a week on regular Los Angeles-Taipei service. The airline offers 17 weekly flights between LAX and Taoyuan International.
