EVA Air and its regional subsidiary UNI Air have initiated code-shared service between Taiwan and China with Air China and its subsidiary Shenzhen Air. Flights started with the winter schedule on Oct. 31, 2010. The arrangement more than doubles the frequency of EVA and UNI flights on eight Taiwan-China routes, making business travel significantly more convenient and giving leisure travelers new options for connecting flights. For many passengers from North America, the added frequency provides more flexibility in planning itineraries.
“Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chongqing and Shenzhen are thriving domestic hubs for China National Aviation Holding Company. Passengers traveling between Taiwan and China now have the advantage of frequent connections to and from 80 major cities in China,” said EVA spokesman K. W. Nieh. “Linked with EVA’s global service system, this far-reaching network in China creates brand-new opportunities for travelers from throughout the world. It also makes trips to China with a stop in Taipei exceptionally attractive. Breaking new ground and extending services for airlines in Taiwan and China, this cooperation holds tremendous benefits for the two aviation groups involved, in addition to what it does for our passengers.”
EVA is part of Taiwan’s Evergreen Group and a sister company to Evergreen Marine. Air China and Shenzhen Air are owned by China National Aviation Holding Company. Routes benefitting from the new shared services include Taipei/Taoyuan-Beijing, Taipei/Taoyuan-Tianjin, Taipei/Taoyuan-Shanghai/Pudong, Taipei/Sungshan-Shanghai/Hongqiao, Taipei/Taoyuan-Hangzhou, Taipei/Taoyuan-Chongqing and Taipei/Taoyuan-Shenzhen. Plans are to extend cosharing to flights between Taipei/Taoyuan and Qingdao toward the end of November 2010 via Shandong Air, another China National Aviation Holding Company airline. Once all the joint service is in operation, EVA and UNI Air’s frequency to these eight destinations will climb from 41 flights a week to 83.
Passengers on Brazil’s flag carrier can now make phone calls, send messages and access the Internet onboard using their Smartphones.
EVA and UNI Air began interline agreements with Air China, Shenzhen Air and Shandong Air in 1995 so that passengers flying to China with stops in Hong Kong or Macau could through-check luggage and get boarding passes for their onward destinations when they checked in for their first flights. And, as soon as direct flights between Taiwan and China were authorized, EVA and UNI Air ratcheted up levels of cooperation with China National Aviation Holding Company. The existing cooperation foundation establishes a base for the two airline companies to work together on frequent flyer programs and increase passenger conveniences and other services.