That is one eye-catching plane livery. The new Hello Kitty Boeing 777 themed "Sanrio Family hand-in-hand" has Hello Kitty and 18 other Sanrio characters all holding hands.
(CNN) -- Cute and adorable or simply odd? The first of EVA Air's long range Hello Kitty jets completed its maiden flight to Los Angeles last week, drawing a litter of curious Kitty enthusiasts.
Whatever your taste -- and judging by the comments below on this updated story, Kitty is more than quite palatable -- the flight marks something of a big step in brand extension for Sanrio's famed cat.
Hello Kitty and her mates are hugely popular the world over, nowhere more so than in Asia where Taiwanese airline EVA Air flies five Kitty-themed planes in a tie-up with Sanrio. This adds to Kitty being on everything from restaurants to toasters (where Kitty's face is burned into your bread) to beer pong tables. Naturally.
Sticking her on a metal tube and taking her to the United States and back is a braver move -- thrice-weekly flights from Taipei to Los Angeles began September 20. Europe is unlikely to be spared with a European schedule also reportedly on the cards.
Each current Hello Kitty plane has a theme and for the Taipei-LAX flight, the new design features 19 Sanrio characters, including My Melody (Hello Kitty's BFF), Little Twin Stars' Kiki and Lala as well as rival character Kuromi, the trouble-making bunny.
That kind of explains the plane's theme of "Sanrio Family hand-in-hand." According to a company statement, the new design tries to convey the message of "embracing the world and overcoming various cultural barriers."
The Hello Kitty planes flying to Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, China and Guam from Taiwan are A330s but for its States-side adventure the feline cat is aboard a new Boeing 777 aircraft, the world's largest twin-engined plane.
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Like the A330s, the B777 is drenched inside and out with Kitty and co.
What do you think? Cute or sickening? Let us know in the comments below
In an earlier version of this story, we took a look at the interior of the A330s. which give an indication of what will reside inside the B777. More than 100 inflight items bear the Hello Kitty motif, including headrest covers, tissues, utensils, snacks and soap dispensers.
And when you're not blowing your nose on Hello Kitty or tearing her in two to get at some peanuts, flight attendants wearing Hello Kitty aprons will sell you limited edition duty-free goods branded with the cutesy animal.
Passengers' immersion into the world of Kitty begins before they get on the plane.
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Boarding passes and baggage stickers are cat-stamped. Travelers board the aircraft through a special Kitty-embellished gate.
The Japanese cartoon company Sanrio launched Hello Kitty, depicted as a white female cat with a red bow in its hair, in 1974.
Three and a half decades later, she was earning worldwide revenue of $5 billion a year.
Sanrio and EVA Air collaborated on their first generation of Kitty-themed aircraft in 2005. With their latest flights, they are providing Kitty with a new aviation market to conquer.
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One of this motley crew actually flies the plane. The paint job required 35 designers and took three times as long to complete than EVA Air's other Asia-route-only Hello Kitty planes.
There are now a total of six Hello Kitty jets. The Taipei-LAX Boeing 777 (pictured) is the first one to showcase not just Kitty but a bunch of fellow Sanrio family members."The cheerful display of characters of all shapes and sizes, joining hands the entire length of the aircraft, invites new friends from around the world," EVA Air said.
This is one of EVA Air's planes that flies Asia routes. Called "Magic Stars Hello Kitty," this flies from Taipei to various Asian hubs including Hong Kong and Japan.
And here is EVA Air's "Happy Music Time Hello Kitty" jet. Obviously. It flies from Taipei to Sapporo and Guam.
These Kitty jets are likely be the only aircraft from which you might be tempted to steal the headrest cover.
As seen in Asia: Hello Kitty meals to go with the Hello Kitty interiors.
The Hello Kitty air experience also includes possibly the world's cutest boarding passes and baggage stickers.
No matter how cute her smile, it can't compete with her apron.
Even the toiletries are comparatively adorable.
The thrice-weekly flights from Taipei to Los Angeles began September 20. A European schedule is also reportedly on the cards.
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