EVA Brings Pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan to New Home in Taiwan
Carrier specially outfits aircraft to welcome pandas, assure well-being

(TAIPEI, TAIWAN – 23 Dec., 2008) – Chosen to be the official Panda Carrier, EVA Air flew two of the endangered bears, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, from Chengdu in Mainland China’s southwest Sichuan province to their new home in Taipei, Taiwan.   EVA transported the two treasured passengers in panda luxury on a specially equipped Boeing 747-400 combi aircraft and landed at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport today at 17:03 (on Dec. 23, 2008 at 5:0 p.m.).  Flight time was approximately three hours and the pandas arrived safe and sound.

EVA Air Vice Group Chairman Bronson Hsieh, EVA President James Jeng and EVA Executive Vice President K.W. Nieh hosted a delegation of Taipei city and zoo officials, veterinarians, caregivers and experts who took the flight to welcome and care for

the pandas.  Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan will make their public debut in a new panda house in the Taipei Zoo during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, which starts on mid - Jan., 2009. EVA made meticulous preparations to ensure that the trip caused as little stress as possible for the endangered giants.  It outfitted the temperature - controlled cargo section of its aircraft to create a flying environment that closely replicated the natural panda habit and flew with the thermostat consistently in the 18-20˚ range.  It stocked the aircraft with the endangered giants’ mealtime favorites, fresh bamboo and fruit.  And it gave the pandas ample room to move about during the flight in a specially configured space measuring 180 square meters (590 square feet), the equivalence of the area needed to transport 4.6 20-ft. cargo containers.

For the comfort and enjoyment of the accompanying delegation, EVA transformed a passenger cabins with a charming panda love theme.  It adorned headrests with the endearing black and white image of two pandas beneath a red heart.  It dressed cabin walls with panda photos.  And it served kitchen-fresh menu selections finished with panda emblems.  Onboard the EVA combi, veterinarians and panda caregivers could easily go back and forth between their passenger cabin and the bears in the aircraft’s main cargo hold.

EVA’s operating standards meet the highest requirements and it has unique qualifications for special assignments, such as serving as the official Panda Carrier.  EVA operates B747-400 combis, the ideal aircraft for transporting sensitive animals and providing care inflight.  It has experience with endangered species from carrying orangutans for relocation in Indonesia and moving kolas native to Australia to a new home in Taiwan.

The Taiwan-based airline also has a long list of distinctions and awards to its credit for quality standards, safety and procedures.  EVA was honored by the Flight Safety Foundation with the Richard Teller Crane Founder’s Award; recognized as one of the world’s 10 safest airlines by Aero International Magazine; certified through the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Operational Safety Audit as an IOSA-Certified Operator; and achieved ISO 9002 & 9001 CERTIFICATIONS from the Bureau Verities Quality International.  EVA’s combi aircraft can comfortably seat 276 passengers.  The airline provides both passenger and cargo services to gateways worldwide, including Europe, Oceania, North America and dozens of major destinations in Asia.  Passenger reservations and bookings can be made through the airline’s local offices, travel agents and online at www.evaair.com.  In addition to using the EVA website, shippers can handle cargo reservations and bookings through freight forwarders.