Taiwan's EVA Air confirmed as new Star member, considers converting UNI Air subsidiary to an LCC

Taiwan's EVA Air formally signed on 29-Mar-2012 with Star Alliance to join the grouping after Star's Chief Executive Board unanimously accepted the carrier's membership application. Wholly owned regional subsidiary UNI Air, however, will not be joining Star and EVA President KW Chang has instead revealed is was a possibility that UNI may be converted to a low-cost carrier.

As Asia's network airlines quickly establish their own LCC subsidiaries, the pressure mounts on others to follow suit and EVA is apparently no exception. In a clear sign that the flurry of LCC subsidiary announcements by other airline groups in Asia was influencing EVA management thinking, Mr Chang Kuo-wei said "it is one thing we are thinking of, but it is only a possibility this stage". While it ponders a possible new short-haul LCC strategy, EVA hopes to leverage its Star Alliance membership to expand on long-haul routes.