Hello Kitty Airline Takes Flight in May
A Taiwanese airline is hoping to drum up attention to it services by decorating their aircraft, both inside and out, with a widely popular avatar character.
EVA Air, one of the largest airlines in Taiwan, is counting on the newly transformed Airbus A330-300 airplane, complete with decorations of the iconic fictional Japanese cartoon character Hello Kitty, to produce an increased interest in the fledgling company.
To start the new campaign EVA Air has completely covered three airplanes with huge motifs of the friendly Japanese character on the outside of the fuselage. They have also reupholstered the entire inside of the cabin complete with Hello Kitty headrests, table trays and even utensils.
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Passengers who fly on these particular airplanes with also begin the experience even before they walk down the jet ramp and onto the plane. Flyers will be issued Hello Kitty-themed tickets and boarding passes and can even use the airline's neon-pink Hello Kitty self-check-in machines.
The first Hello Kitty inspired airplane by EVA Air rolled down the runway in 2005. EVA Air then created a second plane which took to the skies the following year. Both of the airplanes were retired in 2009, but to celebrate the airline's 20th anniversary they re-launched the Hello Kitty airplane.
The Hello Kitty airplanes are set to enter service later this month.
The Hello Kitty planes will serve cities across the Southeast Asia including; Taipei, Fukuoka, Narita, Sapporo, Incheon, Hong Kong and Guam.
The Hello Kitty cartoon was first created in 1974 by the Japanese company Sanrio. Hello Kitty rose to fame during the 1990s and went on to become a very successful international brand in the fashion, television and gaming industries.
In May 2008, Japan named Hello Kitty the ambassador of Japanese tourism in both China and Hong Kong.
