News
EVA Air board ousts chairman, China Airlines outlines A350 plans and LCC V Air expands
March 18th 2016
There was big drama at Evergreen Group headquarters in Taipei last Friday. The group’s heir apparent and head of EVA Air, Chang Kuo-wei, was ousted as chairman, effective immediately, following an unscheduled board meeting. Read More » Chang junior had been chairman since 2013. His father, Chang Yung-fa, founder of the Evergreen conglomerate, passed away in January after naming Chang as his successor as group chairman and sole heir, a source familiar with the extraordinary events said. Chang Jnr will be replaced by company veteran, Steve Lin Pao-shui, who was chairman from 2005-2011. Relatives of the late Chang Snr campaigned for the younger Chang’s removal via representational powers vested in the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation, AsiaOne has reported. EVA spokesman Nieh Kuo-wei also was sacked. His replacement is Ko Chin-cheng, the conglomerate's representative for its China operations. Following his sacking, Chang Jnr said he would "persevere to the very end". EVA Air has grown rapidly in recent years. In 2015, the airline announced plans to buy 24 B787-10s and two B777-300ERs, adding to 13 -300ERs it has ordered.
At EVA’s main competitor, China Airlines (CAL), preparations continue for the acceptance of the carrier’s first delivery, in July, of 14-on-order A350-900s. The flag carrier plans to operate the new twin jet on nonstop services to Amsterdam (four-weekly), Rome (twice-weekly) and Vienna (thrice-weekly). It said it is exploring launching routes with the more fuel-efficient XWB. The SkyTeam member expects to receive four frames this year, six of the type next year and four in 2018. CAL said it would add an on-board European tavern-style SkyBistro on the A350, as well as a “unique cabin fragrance”.
In other Taiwan news, TransAsia Airways budget offshoot, V Air, last Friday launched a thrice-weekly Taoyuan-Haneda link followed by a four times weekly Taoyuan-Ibaraki launch on Tuesday. “We believe the destination [Ibaraki] can attract the young generation and backpackers,” V Air CEO, Eleni Lung, said. V Air operates an all Airbus fleet: two A320s and two A321s. It serves Fukuoka, Haneda, Ibaraki, Nagoya, Osaka, Busan, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Manila.
