EVA Air will begin flying to a second destination in Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's four main islands, on 28 October, 2012. Initially, the carrier will operate two flights a week between Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport and Hakodate Airport. The added service will make trip planning easier and significantly more convenient for business and leisure travelers who fly back and forth between Taiwan and Hokkaido. EVA (BR) will serve the new gateway with a 252-seat Airbus 330-200. Flight BR138 will depart Taoyuan at 11:05 am and arrive in Hakodate at 15:35 (3:35 pm) on Wednesdays and Sundays. Return flight BR137 will depart Hakodate at 16:50 (4:50 pm) and land back in Taoyuan at 20:15 (8:15 pm) on the same day. In December 2012, EVA will increase frequency with a third weekly flight on Thursdays. Flight time between Taoyuan and Hakodate is about three and a half hours. With its abundant natural resources and tourism development, Hokkaido attracts travelers from throughout the world. It has four distinct seasons and is a favorite among Taiwanese travelers for its cherry blossoms in spring, lavender in summer, maple leaves in fall and snow in winter. EVA began serving the promising Hakodate travel market in 1998 with seasonal charter flights, providing as many as 130 flights a year and approximately 400 total flights. Its new route will be the shortest from Taiwan to southern Hokkaido.(eko)