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EVA Air Boosts Its Fleet with Five Additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners

The Taipei-based carrier is also reconfiguring its Boeing 787-9s to include its new Premium Economy cabin

by Dan Booth

April 20, 2023

Photo: EVA Air, Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Boeing.

EVA Air and Boeing announced a deal to add five more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to the Taiwanese carrier’s fleet. The repeat order brings to 26 the number of 787s currently in the airline’s roster or on order, with 13 of the 787-9 variants and 13 of the longer 787-10s.

The airline says deliveries of the newest widebody jetliners are set to begin in 2025 and are scheduled to be completed in 2027.

Photo: EVA Air, Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Boeing.

In addition, EVA also announced plans to update its 787-9s to include its popular Premium Economy cabin, a product the airline pioneered in 1991 under the name “Elite Class.” Currently, the option is only available on EVA’s 777-300ER, but starting in mid-2024, the airline will reconfigure its 787-9s to include Premium Economy and its Royal Laurel and Economy classes now available on the aircraft.

“We will put our new Boeing 787-9s to work on long-haul routes to Europe and North America,” said EVA President Clay Sun. “We are introducing Premium Economy on these aircraft to meet growing operational needs and make our flights even more attractive to passengers.”

Photo: EVA Air, Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Boeing.

“EVA Air operates one of the most efficient and sustainable widebody fleets in the world, with repeat orders for the 787 serving as a testament to the value this family of airplanes brings to its network,” said Stan Deal, president, and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

With higher fuel efficiencies and the aircraft’s range capabilities, the expanded fleet gives the Star Alliance carrier added flexibility on long-haul routes to North America, Europe, and Asia.

“Our 787 fleet has become the foundation of our carbon-neutral growth strategy, and we will continue to leverage this airplane’s unrivaled efficiency and performance for many years to come,” Sun said. “This new order supports our ongoing commitment to operate a more sustainable fleet that will enable us to reduce carbon emissions while providing our passengers with world-class service.”