Good isn't good enough—we're going for better ! National carrier launches "VIP Clearance" service

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

The national airline EVA Air announced today (12th) that starting immediately, its EVA Business Aviation Center at Songshan Airport will offer an "VIP Clearance" service for international passengers. As long as the application is submitted three hours before the flight's departure or arrival, immigration clearance can be completed in just six minutes. It is also expected that the service will be expanded to all domestic flight passengers by March.


▲ In addition to private jet services, EVA Air has announced the extension of VIP clearance to international flights. (Photo / From EVA Air’s official Facebook page)

It is understood that celebrities such as basketball player Jeremy Lin and singer Leehom Wang have used the VIP clearance service for entry and exit at Taoyuan International Airport. The EVA Taipei Business Aviation Center began operations in April 2012, offering services such as private jet flight applications, ground handling agency, and VIP clearance. By the end of December last year, the service had been extended to include VIP clearance for passengers traveling on regular commercial flights.

EVA Air stated that passengers departing via the EVA Taipei Business Aviation Center will be assisted by dedicated staff with check-in and seat assignment, and will complete formalities quickly through independently set-up customs, passport control, and quarantine counters. They will then be transported to the tarmac for boarding via luxury chauffeur-driven vehicles. For arriving passengers, they will be directly picked up by a dedicated vehicle upon disembarkation for clearance, and can leave the airport in as little as six minutes. The entry and exit routes are separated from those of regular passengers. In addition to enjoying fast VIP clearance, their personal privacy is also ensured from outside disturbance.

In January, EVA Air also obtained an Air Operator Certificate for general aviation, making it currently the only airline in Taiwan operating both scheduled flights and business jets. It has currently leased an A318 business jet for operation. EVA Air also stated that the Taipei Business Aviation Center currently serves an average of 80 business jet movements per month at Songshan Airport, and expects this number to grow to 200 movements per month within five years.