Taipei, Oct. 27 (CNA) EVA Airways (EVA), the nation's second-largest carrier, unveiled one of three planes Thursday bearing images of the popular Japanese cartoon character Hello Kitty, in a bid to boost business on its eastern Asia routes.

The aircraft exteriors, as well as cabins and accessories such as boarding passes, napkins, baggage tags and flight attendant aprons all carry the motif of the mouthless cartoon cat.

The company said the plane will be used on the Taiwan-Hokkaido route while the other two will serve travelers on the Taiwan-Tokyo and Taiwan-Fukuoka routes and the Taiwan-Seoul routes, respectively.

The airline said it hopes the promotion will emulate the success of previous "Hello Kitty" campaigns at a time when the aviation industry is being impacted by a weak global economy.

"EVA Air does not have to be the largest air carrier, but we definitely want to be the best and the most flexible," EVA President Chang Kuo-wei said.

Chang said a day earlier that sentiment in the cargo sector this year is the worst he has seen since he entered the market.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
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