Star poised to boost presence in North Asian market with addition of EVA

Star Alliance is planning a key step forward in boosting its presence in the fast-growing North Asian aviation market by adding EVA Airways, Taiwan's second largest carrier. EVA will be mentored by Air China, which currently is the only Star member in greater China although Shenzhen Airlines is also now in the process of joining the alliance.

EVA's expected entry into Star follows the entry earlier this year of rival Taiwanese carrier China Airlines into SkyTeam, the largest alliance grouping in greater China and North Asia. Star is now striving to close the gap in North Asia between it and SkyTeam by adding multiple new members in greater China.

EVA executives early this year stated the carrier had submitted an application to join Star. EVA's executive team, led by chairmen James Jeng, attended this week's Star chief executive board meeting in Addis Ababa to further promote its application. Star's existing members are understood to be in favour of EVA's application and a formal announcement will be made in Taipei in the coming months. As the process of joining Star takes 18 to 24 months, EVA could formally join Star as early as 2013.