EVA Air Unveils New “Besties” Hello Kitty Plane
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Just in the last week alone, Hello Kitty, who will celebrate her 50th birthday on Nov. 1, has launched a McDonald’s Happy Meal collab with the Japanese manga series Yu-Gi-Oh, a shoe collection with Katy Perry, strawberry-flavored Goldfish — and her own Boeing 777.
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On Thursday, Taiwanese airline EVA Air brought the inaugural flight of the “Besties” Hello Kitty-themed Boeing 777-300ER livery to Chicago O’Hare airport with a customary water salute as it pulled up to the gate. Inside the pink-hued party, the cuteness was everywhere, served with cake and apple juice. This is the fourth generation of the Hello Kitty plane in a partnership between Hello Kitty’s creator, Sanrio, and EVA Air that dates back almost 20 years. Conversations between the two began in 2005, with the first aircraft touching down in the U.S. in 2013.
Alongside the world-famous character (who is a girl, not a cat, according to her creator), bunnies My Melody and Kuromi are also prominently featured in the Besties motif, which replaces the Little Twin Stars “Shining Star” livery. This is the first time a fully stocked Kitty craft has landed stateside since pre-COVID. Inside the cabin, passengers drop into her cute world with the theme integrated into headrests, slippers, custom-designed place settings and even a kids’ meal, which EVA Air president Clay Sun says is equally favored by adults.
A model plane and a 3D puzzle round out the merch in the duty-free shop, with more Sanrio-EVA co-branded items on the way. “Besties” will fly Taipei-Chicago three times per week (every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the summer schedule and Monday, Wednesday and Friday in winter).
EVA Air now features four routes with Hello Kitty Jets. Black penguin Bad Badtz-Maru Travel Fun flies the Clark, Philippines, route while Celebration Flight and Joyful Dream depicting ??Hello Kitty. Little Twin Stars and golden retriever Pom Pom Purin alternate on the Bali and Cebu routes. Even if you don’t get a Special Livery Jet, in-cabin amenities represent the Hello Kitty theme, so you still have the onboard experience. Sun says two more planes will enter service by the end of the year, but those will be in Asia. EVA Air North America operates 87 flights per week.
Hello Kitty debuted in 1974 on a simple vinyl coin purse. As of 2022, her products were available in 130 countries, and Sanrio achieved $3.8 billion in annual retail sales globally. Licensing deals have touched everything from Crocs to Igloo coolers, Adidas and Puma, Vans and Converse, and the MLB and NBA, just to name a few.
For those who can’t book a flight with Hello Kitty and her friends, create your own adorable experience at home and shop stylish Sanrio merch below.
Forever 21 Hello Kitty Bow Ballet Flats
Champion x Sanrio Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Fleece Sweatshirt
Champion x Sanrio Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Fleece Sweatshirt
MVMT x Hello Kitty Coronada Ceramic Bracelet Watch
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