EVA Air Brings Again Hi there Kitty Jet Service

One of many world’s most playful passenger experiences has returned as EVA Air introduced that its Hi there Kitty Jet service recommenced on March 27, 2023. For over a decade, EVA Air has labored with Japanese firm Sanrio to supply a singular idea, which options the long-lasting anthropomorphic cat and different characters from the corporate.

Whereas the Taipei-based service’s Hi there Kitty Jet service was suspended on April 1, 2020, because of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers at the moment are as soon as once more in a position to take Hi there Kitty-themed flights.

EVA Air has a number of plane painted in colourful particular liveries that includes Hi there Kitty and different Sanrio characters. The primary iteration of the Hi there Kitty Jets was launched in 2005 however was discontinued in 2009. In 2011, the airline introduced the return of Hi there Kitty Jets, which has continued to at the present time.

Over time, numerous Airbus A320-200, A330-200, Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 777-300ER plane have worn particular Hi there Kitty Jet liveries. Since plane are typically repainted each 5 to 10 years, the airline has launched over ten totally different liveries for its Hi there Kitty Jets. Every plane is called primarily based on its paint job, with the airline utilizing names similar to Shining Star, Hi there Kitty Loves Apples and Celebration Flight.

An EVA Air Airbus A330-300 Hi there Kitty Jet named “Hi there Kitty Loves Apples” in 2015. This plane has since acquired a brand new Hi there Kitty livery and is now named “Joyful Dream.” (Photograph: AirlineGeeks | Andrew Chen)

The Hi there Kitty theming extends far past the plane liveries. The presence of Hi there Kitty is felt all through your complete air journey expertise. At check-in, passengers obtain themed boarding passes and baggage tags. Upon boarding the plane, Hi there Kitty finishings and facilities are instantly seen, with themed headrest covers, pillows and seatback display content material. Within the seatback pocket, passengers will discover pink and white security playing cards and airsickness baggage. In the course of the flight, EVA Air flight attendants don pink Hi there Kitty aprons over their inexperienced uniforms to serve meals that embody Hi there Kitty cutlery advert different nods to the cat and her pals.

The Taiwanese airline at present has 5 plane painted in Hi there Kitty liveries, down from seven earlier than the pandemic. The present Hi there Kitty Jets are:

• Friendship Bows: An Airbus A321-200 registered as B-16207
• Dangerous Badtz-Maru Journey Enjoyable: An Airbus A330-300 registered as B-16331
• Joyful Dream: An Airbus A330-300 registered as B-16332
• Celebration Flight: An Airbus A330-300 registered as B-16333
• Shining Star: A Boeing 777-300ER registered as B-16722

Previous to the service’s pandemic suspension, Hi there Kitty Jet service was provided on quite a few routes, together with flights between Taipei and Singapore, Seoul and numerous Japanese locations. Previously, the themed expertise was additionally out there on flights to long-haul locations similar to Paris, Houston and Los Angeles. Nonetheless, Hi there Kitty Jets service is now solely out there on three routes:

• Flights BR115 and BR116 between Taoyuan Worldwide Airport (Taipei, Taiwan) and New Chitose Airport (Sapporo, Japan) are working each day by both Joyful Dream or Celebration Flight.
• Flights BR255 and BR256 between Taoyuan Worldwide Airport (Taipei, Taiwan) and Denpasar Worldwide Airport (Bali, Indonesia) are operated each day by both Joyful Dream or Celebration Flight.
• Flights BR55 and BR56 between Taoyuan Worldwide Airport (Taipei, Taiwan) and Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport are operated 3 times per week by Shining Star.

EVA Air Airbus A330-300 Hi there Kitty Jet Financial system Class seats (Photograph: AirlineGeeks | Andrew Chen)

When there are gear adjustments on designated Hi there Kitty Jet routes, the onboard themed service is mostly nonetheless provided even when the plane flying that day doesn’t have a Hi there Kitty livery. Equally, when Hi there Kitty plane function non-Hi there Kitty Jet routes, the flights have common EVA Air onboard service and facilities. That is at present the case with Friendship Bows and Dangerous Badtz-Maru Journey Enjoyable, that are at present serving non-Hi there Kitty Jet routes.

EVA Air has beforehand indicated that Hi there Kitty Jet flights have been very worthwhile, however the airline additionally faces distinctive prices with the service similar to licensing charges in addition to product design and manufacturing. Regardless of a three-year hiatus for the themed expertise, the return of Hi there Kitty Jet flights reveals that the colourful plane will probably stay within the skies for years to return.

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and journey. He has flown everywhere in the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air journey trade. As a personal pilot and glider pilot who has labored with airways, airports and different trade stakeholders, he’s all the time excited to share his ardour for aviation with others. Along with being a author, he additionally hosts Flying Smarter, an academic journey podcast that explores the complicated world of air journey to assist listeners grow to be better-informed and savvier vacationers.

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