 Taiwanese Comparison: What Sets EVA Air & China Airlines Apart? |
Source |
American Shipper |
Post Date |
05/24/2024 |
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These two carriers are key players in the Taiwanese long-haul markets.
SUMMARY
? EVA Air and China Airlines dominate Taiwans aviation market, eclipsing other carriers.
? The carriers have unique histories and diverse fleets and are both undergoing ongoing modernization efforts.
? China Airlines maintains an extensive fleet of over 75 aircraft, while EVA Air maintains a similar one with dozens of outstanding aircraft orders.
Two carriers, EVA Air and China Airlines, dominate Taiwans long-haul international aviation market, surpassing the capacities of other major carriers that serve the island. Both airlines have been operational for decades and have expanded their fleets and route networks over time to include dozens of destinations across multiple continents.
From a statistical perspective, these two carriers dwarf their nearest competitor, Starlux Airlines, which entered the market just four years ago and still only serves a handful of destinations. According to the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), EVA Air operates nearly 23,000 one-way weekly seats, while competitor China Airlines has around 12,000. Starlux and US-based legacy carrier United Airlines, the next two largest forces in the market, barely cracked 5,000 weekly one-way seats.
As a result, the most important carriers in the Taiwanese international market are legacy airlines EVA Air and China Airlines.
However, quite a few things set these two airlines apart. In this article, we will compare and contrast Taiwans two largest carriers unique histories and modern fleets.
History and ownership
In September 1988, Dr. Chang Yung-fa, a Taiwanese business utive who had founded the far-reaching Evergreen conglomerate, decided to launch a new national airline. The entrepreneur, who had already made a fortune creating one of the worlds largest shipping companies alongside dozens of other businesses, sought to add an aerial transportation arm to the conglomerates reach.
The company launched the following year, with Chang placing a massive order for 30 Boeing and McDonnell Douglas jets. The airline conducted its first revenue flights in 1991, using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Today, the company remains under the ownership of the Evergreen Group, which recently became a publicly traded company when it was listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in 2021. Todays EVA Air remains a rare example of a multinational shipping conglomerate owning and operating a major airline.
History: How EVA Air Came To Be Owned By The Evergreen Group Shipping Conglomerate The carrier has unique corporate governance.
China Airlines, however, far predates the Evergreen Groups airline, having been established nearly three decades prior, in 1959. The airline was founded by a retired air force officer, and initially began service with a number of ter flights. The organization was originally fully state-owned, with the Taiwanese government controlling all shares.
By the 1960s, the airline had been able to establish its first scheduled routes, including domestic services between Taipei and Hualien, according to the companys website. The carrier soon began its international expansion, with destinations including South Vietnam and Japan, before finally entering the transpacific market in the 1970s.
Today, the carrier remains managed by the China Aviation Development Foundation, and a significant stake in the airlines parent company, the China Airlines Group, still rests in the hands of the Taiwanese government. In 1991, the airline began moving towards privatization with an initial public offering (IPO) application, before the company was officially listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange two years later, in 1993.
China Airlines Fleets
One of the key features that sets these two airlines apart today is their fleet strategies. As of April 2024, China Airlines maintains an extensive fleet of over 75 aircraft that includes all the following jets, according to data from aviation analytics database ch-aviation:
The airline has historically operated a mix of Airbus and Boeing jets, with some types such as the Boeing 747-400 and the Airbus A340 being retired in recent years in favor of more efficient widebody twinjets. In the coming years, the airline will continue its fleet modernization efforts.
For starters, the carriers Boeing 737-800 fleet is slated to be retired in favor of Airbus A321neo jets, which are set to be delivered by 2026. The airlines A330-300 jets are slated for retirement by 2026 as well, with new 787 Dreamliners set to enter service. For the time being, the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 will continue to serve as the backbone of China Airlines high-capacity widebody fleet.
The airline also operates a large cargo fleet, including 12 Boeing 747-400F freighters. In addition, China Airlines Cargo currently operates 7 Boeing 777F jets, with three more orders still outstanding.
EVA Air fleet
EVA Air maintains a similar fleet, with over 75 aircraft as well. However, the carrier has significantly more orders on the way. The carrier currently operates all the following aircraft types:
Much like China Airlines, EVA Air relies on a combination of Boeing and Airbus jets, and is in the midst of a fleet modernization process. Historically, the carrier relied heavily on Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft, with the Airbus A330 being the only European-made widebody to enter service so far. The airline has retired aircraft like the Boeing 747-400/-400F, Boeing 767-300ER and McDonnell Douglas MD-11.
The airlines narrowbody fleet is currently slated to receive a significant upgrade in the coming years, with new Airbus A321neo jets on order. The airlines A330 fleet is also set for modernization, with all planes set to be retired by 2029 and replaced by the Boeing 787, according to Bloomberg.
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The future of the airlines high capacity widebody fleet is decidedly Airbus, with the A350-1000 set to replace most aging 777-300ERs. Interestingly, the carrier also plans on converting three of its 777 jets into freighters in 2025.
As EVA Airs parent company, the Evergreen Group, is an international logistics giant, it is unsurprising that the carrier has a healthy cargo arm. The EVA Air cargo fleet currently consists of 8 Boeing 777F jets, with an additional unit on order and the aforementioned converted jets on their way.
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