The new Eastern and Surinam Airways announce a strategic partnership, the first Boeing 737-800 is due to be introduced in Miami on December 19

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) (Miami) and Surinam Airways (Paramaribo) have announced a strategic partnership including operational support, maintenance and training according to this joint statement:

Surinam Airways and Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. announced on November 13 a strategic partnership between the two airlines, encompassing cooperation in the areas of operational support, maintenance, and training.

The partnership will eventually include mutual support in sales and marketing.

“We are very pleased and honored to partner with Surinam Airways, and to support each other as we grow our airlines. Surinam Airways is an excellent operator with a breadth of experience and we expect to share best practices and find common areas of cost reduction and operational support.” said Ed Wegel, President and CEO of Eastern Air Lines.

“Surinam Airways is delighted to be in a partnership with the new Eastern Air Lines. We believe this is an effective way for our airline to extend its reach by cooperating with Eastern at its Miami base of operations. We look forward to our teams working together to find operational synergies between our two airlines.” Said Ewald Henshuijs, CEO of Surinam Airways.

On the weekend of November 22 the new airline held a recruiting session for new flight attendants.

Eastern Air Lines plans to begin operating Boeing 737-800 aircraft from its Miami base in early 2015. The new Eastern will initially operate as a charter airline and is currently going through its AOC certification process. The next proving phase will start on the arrival of the first Boeing 737-800 in Miami.

According to the Miami Herald, the majority stockholder in the company is Vincent Viola who is also the co-owner of the Florida Panthers. The team is likely to become one of the early charter customers.

Copyright Photo: SM Fitzwilliams Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. Former Kenya Airways Boeing 737-8AL 5Y-KYB (msn 35070), currently at Shannon, Ireland, will become N276EA “Spirit of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker” on delivery. N276EA is due to be formally introduced on December 19 at a ceremony at Miami International Airport.

The original Eastern Airlines (1st) aircraft slide show: