Taipei-based EVA Airways Corp. (BR) has been accepted into the Star Alliance and expects to become a member by 2013a.
“This decision underscores the alliance’s long-term strategy of seeking network growth and providing access to new regions, which shows strong economic potential and development,” Star CEO Mark Schwab said at the signing ceremony in Taipei. He said BR is a very good fit for the alliance, with a specific focus on the growing Far East aviation market.
BR will become the second Taiwanese carrier to join an alliance, after competitor China Airlines (CI) joined SkyTeam last year.
“After careful evaluation, we concluded that Star offers the best match for BR. Our networks complement each other and we will expand the existing alliance flight options in the growing cross-straits market ... in addition, our partnership with Air China makes the Star Alliance especially attractive to us,” said BR chairman James Jeng.
Air China (CA), which joined Star in 2007, will assist in the integration process as the mentor airline. “I hope … this will be a win-win situation and collaborate in the important cross-strait market,” CA SVP Xiao-Hang Zhao said.
In response to a question regarding which alliance has the strongest position in China, Zhao said there will be fewer carriers in SkyTeam when Shenzhen Airlines joins Star in the fourth quarter .
Schwab told : “They [SkyTeam] have China Southern and China Eastern, but what I like is the spread of our position [in China]. We are well covered in the North and the South. BR helps to grow our position. Asiana alone offers 21 destinations in China.”
“Many airlines try to fly to China. But not everybody can. For example, no foreign carrier is allowed to operate on the cross-straits market. This is a unique service. BR [will] become a member at a good time,” BR president K.W. Chang added.
Article Source : ATW Daily News
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