LOS ANGELES, (August 21, 2017) – EVA Air operated its last Boeing 747-400 passenger flight this morning (August 21, 2017) when BR892 flew from Hong Kong to Taipei. The airline has flown Boeing 747-400s for almost a quarter of a century, creating much of the global network it now serves with the majestic aircraft. Boeing 747-400s formed the backbone of EVA’s long-haul fleet through the airline’s early growth and development.

EVA took delivery of its first two 747s in November 1992 and used them to launch long-haul routes from Taipei to North America and Europe. While it operated the majestic aircraft, EVA flew 747s to 28 different destinations.

EVA often chose 747s for special flights, carrying high-ranking officials and priceless treasures around the world. The airline used the aircraft on dedicated flights for Taiwan’s presidents’ overseas trips, to transport endangered species and protected animals such as giant pandas from China, koalas from Australia, red-crowned cranes from Japan, and to carry precious works of art from the Louvre, an irreplaceable statue of the goddess Mazu from China and more.

EVA also used its Boeing 747-400s to launch service innovations as well. In 1992, EVA rolled out the airline industry’s very first premium economy class aboard its first two 747s. Premium economy was widely embraced by both business and leisure passengers and continues to be popular EVA where it’s now named Elite Class.

While EVA is decommissioning its last 747 passenger jet, it is holding fast to its commitment to flight safety and service quality. That commitment includes serving passengers with comfortable, convenient aircraft equipped with the best of the latest technologies, such as the Boeing 777-300ERs it now operates on all long-haul routes and, starting next year, the newest generation of Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

EVA’s Boeing 747-400s made building global network possible

EVA Air:

• took delivery of its first two Boeing 747-400s on November 2, 1992.
• used these first two 747s to launch daily service to Los Angeles, its first North America destination, on December 12, 1992.

• rolled out the airline industry’s first premium economy cabins with those first two 747s. At the time, it was the world’s only airline to configure aircraft with four passenger service cabins, Super First Class, Super Deluxe Class business, Economy Deluxe Class premium economy and Economy Class.
• introduced London flights with a 747 on March 29, 1993.
• added another of the jumbo jets on May 10, 1993 and introduced three flights a week, Newark-Seattle-Taipei, on June 8, 1993.
• initiated Taipei-San Francisco service with a 747 operating three times a week on October 2, 1993.
• began Paris service three times a week with a 747 on November 16, 1993.
• moved US East Coast operations to John F. Kennedy International Airport and began serving New York and Seattle as two separate routes with 747s on May 17, 1995.
• grew its 747 fleet to 12 aircraft by December 18, 1996, all powered by GE CF6-80 series engines.
• started Vancouver service with a 747 flying three times a week on June 2, 1999.
• flew 747s to 28 destinations in its flight network, also including Vienna in Europe; Bangkok, Singapore, Penang, Ho Chih Minh City (Saigon), Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Denpasar (Bali) in Southeast Asia; Tokyo, Sapporo and Hakodate in Japan; Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau in China.
• operated seven B747-400 passenger jets, eight B747-400 combis and three B747-400 freighters, totaling 18 of the majestic and versatile airplanes through the almost quarter century of service.