'Hello Kitty' Gets Wings

Thanks to Taiwanese-based Eva Air, Japan's Tourism Ambassador, the adorable and wildly popular Hello Kitty is now taking to the skies. The company recently announced Magic Jet, their third airplane catering to fans of the cartoon character.

The brand new A330-300 aircraft, joins Apple Jet and Global Jet, which made their debut on December 7th, 2011 and December 23, 2011, respectively.  Passengers traveling in the 300-seater planes do not just enjoy the colorful Hello Kitty themes that are painted on the exterior, but also, experience it throughout the flight.

The fun begins with the 'Hello Kitty' inspired self-service check-In booths, where passengers receive boarding cards with her motif. As they step on the flight, they are greeted by flight attendents wearing Hello Kitty aprons.

Once they plunk down onto their seats that feature the cat smiling down from the headrests, they are treated to Hello Kitty shaped entrees, fruit and dessert. Even the drinks, contain ice that has been shaped like the famous icon.

And then there are of course the branded accessories for passengers to enjoy - like tissues, paper cups, utensils and even milk bottles for the infant fans. If the passengers still haven't had their fill, they can purchase limited edition duty-free products that includes Hello Kitty shaped pasta.

While all this may seem overkill to people who are not fans, the airline says they cannot keep up with the demand, which explains why they had to introduce this third flight and also announce at least one 'Hello Kitty' flight a day!

Born Kitty White, Hello Kitty first appeared on Sanrio stationary in 1974, as one of their 'cutesy' characters, with an intriguing background. Born half British and half Japanese, her 'family' was based out of England. To signify that she spoke a global language from her heart, she was sketched without a mouth.

While the creators had hoped the tale might grab the heartstrings of young kids, even they were surprised at how big a sensation she became, almost instantly. What's even more stunning is that even after all these years she remains a popular icon, not only in Japan, but also, worldwide. Today, the round-faced cartoon is featured on over 50,000 products that are sold in over 60 countries worldwide and bring in an excess of $500 million USD annually, for parent company, Sanrio.

Also, unlike most kid characters, Hello Kitty seems to appeal to both kids and adults, especially in China and Hong Kong, which is the reason Japan's officials appointed her Tourism Ambassador in 2008.

Needless to say, this cute cat is a star within her own company. The Sanrio website is dedicated mostly to her. She also has a blog, a multi-player game site a 3D Japanese television show and a theme park. Are you a fan of this charismatic cat? Were you ever? - Be sure to let us know, by adding your comments below.

Resources: wikipedia.org, dailymail.co.uk, hellokittyuniverse.com