EVA’s Elite Cabin Ranked Best Premium Economy Class
Global air transport research leader Skytrax surveyed passengers worldwide.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (Aug. 20, 2008) – Passengers ranked EVA Air’s Elite cabin as the Best Premium Economy Class in Skytrax’s annual World Airline Survey.  United Kingdom-based Skytrax invited 15,500,000 airline passengers from 97 countries to participate in its annual airline rankings.  This is the first time Skytrax has ranked premium economy classes.

Participating passengers were surveyed by telephone, questionnaires and on Skytrax’s website during an 11-month period.  Respondents rated airlines’ class categories on cabin comfort, including cleanliness and amenities, airport service and cabin-staff service.  The survey examined the smallest details of air travel, asking passengers to rate inflight safety procedures, catering and onboard shopping as well as specifics on seats and service.  The overall survey listed more than 170 airlines. EVA was one of the first in the airline industry to create a distinctive premium economy cabin in-between economy and business and to give its passengers an attractive, affordable and very comfortable travel option.  The airline launched this innovative cabin on its first flight to North America in 1992 and further upgraded the cabin as Elite Class in 2005 with the launch of its first brand-new Boeing 777-300ER.  EVA’s Elite Class is comparable to many domestic carriers’ business class in service, comfort and amenities, yet typically costs only about 25% more than economy.

As early as 1992, every one of EVA’s premium economy passengers had individual, adjustable, seatback-mounted entertainment systems.  Today, the personal Audio/Video on Demand (AVOD) entertainment systems in Elite Class have expanded 8.4-inch touch-screens and offer movies, features, music, video games and shopping. EVA’s fully adjustable ergonomic Elite Class seats are 18.5 inches wide and have a roomy 38-inch pitch.  They also have leg- and foot-rests, moveable headrests, tray tables that fold into extra-wide armrests and added conveniences such as personal coat hooks. London-based Skytrax specializes in air transport industry research.  The organization commissions and manages two major independent annual passenger surveys, the World Airline Survey and the World Airport Survey, both designed to examine quality performance. Strategically based in Taiwan, EVA Air serves a global network of major business and leisure destinations.  It has consistently earned recognition from organizations worldwide for the quality of its operations and services, including two leading business-travel publications for its wines, the Flight Safety Foundation for “corporate leadership in aviation safety programs and its superb safety record” and rankings among the world’s 10 safest airlines by Aero International Magazine.  Travelers can book, buy and reserve seats, as well as find more information, with a few easy clicks on EVA Air’s user friendly website at www.evaair.com.