EVA Air, the nation’s second-largest carrier by revenue, yesterday launched a fleet of four passenger planes with floral-themed cabins to promote the Taipei International Flora Expo (TIFE) 2010.
The Taipei City Government has designated EVA Air as the official carrier for the expo, which will run from Nov. 6 to April 25 next year.
The four planes each took off from a different Asian city yesterday to launch the TIFE promotion drive, the airline said.
EVA Air has outfitted four of its Airbus 330-200s — which fly shorter-haul and regional routes — with floral themes. More than 40 items, including place mats, cups and head-rest covers, have been imprinted with flora expo images, the Taipei City Department of Economic Development said.
The airline is also featuring expo images on its luggage tags and boarding passes, which can be kept by passengers as a memento.
In addition, EVA Air said it would offer special passenger and airfreight rates for visitors and participating exhibitors at the expo.
Children from an orphanage run by the non-profit Taiwan Fund for Children and Families have been invited to board one of the theme flights and will be treated to a “TIFE inflight dinner,” city department officials said.
The department said that as of last month, 99 organizations and groups from 68 cities in 37 countries had registered to take part in the 2010 Taipei flora expo as exhibitors.
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