In September 1988, during the 20th anniversary celebration of Evergreen Marine Corporation’s founding, company chairman Chang Yung-fa announced his company’s intentions to establish Taiwan’s first private international airline. At the time, the opportunity to create a major Taiwanese airline had just arisen following a decision by the Taiwanese government to liberalize the country’s air transportation system. However, the Taiwanese government mandated strict requirements for international experience and substantial financial backing for any company seeking permission for international airline service from Taiwan. With the Evergreen Airlines designation already taken, EVA Airways Corporation was formally established in March 1989. The new airline placed a US$3.6 billion order for 26 aircraft from Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, including Boeing 747-400 and MD-11 airliners.
Operations began on 1 July 1991 with a small fleet of Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring business and economy class seating. Initial destinations from Taipei were Bangkok, Seoul, Jakarta, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.First year revenues reached $40 million.
In 1992, EVA Air launched the first premium economy class on transpacific routes, "Economy Deluxe Class" (known today as Elite Class), on its Boeing 747-400 flights from Taipei to Los Angeles.
Flights to Seattle, Newark, Bangkok, and Vienna with the B747-400 followed. Featuring a 2-4-2 abreast configuration, wider seats with extendable legrests, more legroom, individual seatback video monitors, and enhanced meal services, EVA’s premium economy services proved popular with the traveling public. At the time, EVA charged an average price premium of just $200 over economy class, thousands less than competing business class products. Established as the airline for Taiwanese people, EVA Air differentiated its onboard service by using the order of "Min Nan-Mandarin-Hakka-English/foreign languages" for its cabin announcements on every flight. This was aimed to attract elderly Taiwanese passengers who had difficulty in speaking Mandarin. (More recently, Min Nan and Mandarin have switched order in the announcements, but both still remain).
EVA Air also used Taiwanese folk songs in its boarding music, most notably an orchestral form of "Longing for Spring Wind," adding a sentimental touch to passengers' journeys. This practice continues today as part of a wider repertoire of songs performed by the Evergreen Symphonic Orchestra during boarding and disembarkation.
In the mid-90s, EVA Air expanded into the domestic Taiwan market by acquiring shares in Makung International Airlines, followed by Great China Airlines and Taiwan Airways. On 1 July 1998, all three carriers, as well as EVA's existing domestic operations, merged under the Uni Air title. By 1994, EVA was providing regular service to 22 destinations worldwide, and carrying over 3 million passengers annually. In 1995, EVA posted its first profit on revenues of $1.05 billion.
Internationally, the airline’s rapid expansion and success was boosted by its strong safety record, in contrast to its primary competitor, China Airlines. In addition to being the first Taiwanese airline to receive IOSA (IATA Operations Safety Audit) certification, EVA Air in 1997 became the only Taiwanese airline to achieve simultaneous official ISO 9002 certification in the areas of Passenger, Cargo, and Maintenance Services.
In June 2000, EVA Air became the launch customer for the Boeing 777-200LR, the longest range airliner in the world. At the same time, the airline ordered four Boeing 777-300ERs. In January 2001, EVA Air ordered its first Airbus aircraft, the A330. In the summer of 2004, EVA Air converted its remaining 8 options for Boeing 777-300ERs into firm orders. The first Boeing 777-300ER entered service as EVA Air's new flagship aircraft in July 2005.
With the debuts of its A330 and B777 aircraft in the early 21st century, EVA Air launched a comprehensive revamp of its cabins, introducing lie-flat beds in its new Premium Laurel Class business cabin, and upgrading its premium economy product to the new Elite Class cabin. EVA also introduced a second slogan, "Sharing the World, Flying Together," with the debut of its B777s.
In recent years, EVA adopted a new livery featuring (true to its Evergreen name) extensive use of green covering the aircraft below the window line. Over the years, the airline has grown to encompass extensive pilot and cabin attendant training facilities, along with its dedicated Evergreen Sky Catering and Evergreen Airline Services ground support divisions. EVA Air offers travel packages through EVA Air travel services, UNI Holidays, and Evergreen's Evasión travel service, often via Evergreen Laurel Hotels. In 1998, EVA Air partnered with General Electric to form the Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation (EGAT), a heavy maintenance and aircraft overhaul service. EGAT provides safety, repair, and refit services for EVA Air and other airlines' aircraft. In 2006, Boeing awarded EGAT an exclusive contract to convert three Boeing 747-400 aircraft into ultra-large Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter Dreamlifters for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner program. As of December 2005, EVA Air and its associated divisions have 5,089 employees.
EVA Air Cargo has since grown to include specialized facilities in Europe, Asia, and North America, and dedicated freighter routes around the world. Its cargo operations have diversified to include transportation of high-tech equipment and special care items such as museum artwork and live zoological specimens. EVA Air has stated its goal of achieving a 50/50 split in revenues between its passenger and cargo operations. Today, EVA serves over 40 destinations worldwide.