TAIPEI, Taiwan -- American Airlines will begin daily nonstop
flights between Taipei and San Jose, Calif., as part of a
code-sharing agreement with Taiwan's flag carrier EVA Airways.
The service, which is an expansion of the two carriers' existing
marketing agreement, is scheduled to begin on April 1.
The flights will be operated with a 235-seat 777 with three
classes of service.
To promote the expanded service, American said it will participate
in trade missions with the city of San Jose, the city's chamber of
commerce and its convention and visitors bureau to promote San Jose
and its attractions to the people of Taiwan.
Taiwan is the home of many of the world's top electronics
component suppliers, and the new flights will make it easier for
Silicon Valley executives to do business in Taiwan, executives of
both airlines said.
"The San Jose-Taipei flight will be a welcome service for all
the engineers and computer industry professionals who regularly
travel back and forth between the Silicon Valley and Taiwan," said
Samuel Lin, a senior vice president for EVA Airways.
Mike Gunn, American's executive vice president of marketing and
planning, said a "technology bridge" exists between San Jose and
Taiwan.
He noted that some 60 high-tech companies from Taiwan's Hsinchu
Science Park have offices in the Silicon Valley area.
In addition, there are nearly 50 Taiwanese venture capital firms
in Silicon Valley, he said. "All of this makes Taipei a natural fit
for American and San Jose," said Gunn.
When the San Jose-Taipei service begins, American said it will
operate a total of 74 flights a day to San Jose from 20 domestic
and international cities.
Departing San Jose at 1:30 p.m., flight 151 is scheduled to
arrive in Taipei at 5:50 p.m. the next day.
Flight 150 will depart Taipei at 12:35 p.m. and arrive in San
Jose at 9 a.m. on the same day.