EVA and Star Alliance will sign an agreement in Taipei 29th of March for the airline to join the alliance in about 12 months’ time. The carrier is expected to join the alliance in 2013 after meeting all the entry requirements. The bigger Taiwanese carrier China Airlines joined the rival alliance SkyTeam.
Ethiopian Airlines joined the Star Alliance in 2011 and Avianca/TACA and Copa are both expected to join the alliance shortly.
EVA operates to four destinations in Europe of which three are operated via Bangkok. Only the Paris route is direct. In the Americas the airline has non-stop service to Vancouver, Seattle, Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, and New York. Obviously the carrier has extensive network to China, North and Southeast Asia. The only destination served in Australia is Brisbane.
Taiwan is a natural connecting point from traffic coming from Americas and continuing to Southeast Asia and China.
Taipei is a very interesting and modern city to visit for a long weekend. I have been there couple of times. My plan is to travel, schedule permitting, to other cities around the island as well to see the more traditional Taiwan.
