EVA Air Marks 10th Star Alliance Anniversary With 8th New Boeing 787-10

EVA Air celebrated its 10th anniversary of joining the Star Alliance organization by taking delivery of its eighth Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft.

The new plane, which came out of the paint shop featuring the special Star Alliance livery, departed from the Boeing factory in North Charleston, South Carolina, on a 17-hour ferry flight to Taipei. The aircraft was powered solely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

According to the Taiwanese carrier, this flight shed carbon emissions by approximately 70,000 kilograms, marking the highest proportion of SAF used in Taiwan’s aviation industry and symbolizing EVA’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050.

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

“These actions symbolize the close connection between EVA and Star Alliance and demonstrate EVA’s commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2050,” said Clay Sun, EVA President. According to him, the airline has been implementing aviation fuel-saving measures for years, resulting in better fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions.

The Taiwanese carrier plans to monitor SAF development and renewable energy opportunities to meet its short, medium, and long-term goals, working with appropriate government agencies and aviation industry partners to promote the fuel’s production and sustainability.

Successful Star Alliance Partner

The airline’s President added that EVA is proud to have been a Star Alliance member since June 2013. “We are celebrating our 10th Star Alliance Membership anniversary with a series of special events and programs.,” he said.

According to Sun, EVA’s partnership with Star Alliance has allowed it to upgrade and improve its hardware and software, providing passengers with better service. Furthermore, Star Alliance’s global network of over 1,200 airports in 184 countries has enabled EVA to boost revenue from passenger operations by nearly 5% annually and increase its international corporate contract customers by 10%.

To commemorate the delivery of its newest aircraft, EVA is now offering the “EVA Air B787-10 Star Alliance Aircraft Model 1:200” for collectors and aviation fans, available from May 8 through the EVA SKY SHOP for NT$1,690 (US$55).

Photo: Courtesy of EVA SKY SHOP

EVA currently operates a fleet of 86 aircraft, including 78 passenger jets and eight freighters. The airline plans to add nine more Boeing 787-9s, five more 787-10s, and one more 777 Freighter to its fleet, with deliveries scheduled through the end of 2027.

In April, the airline added five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to its order book. 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 open on the aircraft.

Thanks to the enhanced fuel efficiency and extended range of the aircraft, the Star Alliance carrier now has a more versatile fleet for long-haul flights to North America, Europe, and Asia.