Global Traveler Readers Select EVA as Best Airline for Premium Economy
More than 31,000 travelers respond to fifth annual GT Tested Reader Survey

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (Dec. 9, 2008) – Readers selected EVA Air as the Best Airline for Premium Economy in Global Traveler magazine’s fifth annual GT Tested Survey.  The international business-travel publication surveyed its readers between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, 2008, inviting them to identify “the best” in 55 categories of business and luxury travel.  Readers returned 31,457 completed questionnaires.

Global Traveler is an American magazine written for international business travelers with an ABC-paid circulation of 100,000+.  Its readers are frequent premium travelers.  Other winners in the GT Tested Survey include Singapore Airlines as Best Airline in the World, Emirates as the Best Airline for First Class.  Survey questions were open-ended.

EVA’s Elite premium economy cabin was also recently ranked as the Best Premium Economy Class in Skytrax’s annual World Airline Survey.  United Kingdom-based Skytrax invited 15,500,000 airline passengers from 97 countries to participate in its annual airline rankings. Passengers participating in Skytrax’s survey rated airlines’ cabins on comfort, cleanliness and amenities, in addition to carriers’ airport and cabin-staff service.  Examining the smallest details of air travel, Skytrax also asked passengers to rate inflight safety procedures, catering and onboard shopping as well as seats and service.  EVA was the first airline to give travelers a distinct premium economy cabin in-between economy and business and to give its passengers an attractive, affordable and very comfortable travel option.  The airline launched this innovative cabin on its first flight to North America in 1992 and further upgraded it as Elite Class in 2005 when its first brand-new Boeing 777-300ER was placed in service.  EVA’s Elite Class is comparable to many domestic carriers’ business class in service, comfort and amenities, yet typically costs only a fraction more than economy.  As early as 1992, every one of EVA’s premium economy passengers had individual, adjustable, seatback-mounted entertainment systems.  Today, the personal Audio/Video on Demand (AVOD) entertainment systems in Elite Class have expanded 8.4-inch touch-screens and offer movies, features, music, video games and shopping. EVA’s fully adjustable ergonomic Elite Class seats are 18.5 inches wide and have a roomy 38-inch pitch.  They also have leg- and foot-rests, moveable headrests, tray tables that fold into extra-wide armrests and added conveniences such as personal coat hooks. Taiwan-based EVA serves a global network of major business and leisure destinations.  It has consistently earned recognition from leading organizations worldwide for the quality of its operations and services. Travelers can book, buy and reserve seats, and learn more about the airline with just a few easy clicks on EVA Air’s user friendly website at www.evaair.com.