Eastern Air Lines‘ (2nd) (Miami) Boeing 737-8AL N276EA (msn 3507) minutes ago brought the Eastern name back to Miami International Airport after nearly 24 years. The original Eastern Airlines (1st) (Miami) ceased operations on January 18, 1991.

Top Photo: Miami International Airport. N276EA was greeted at MIA after its long delivery flight from Shannon via Portsmouth with the traditional water cannon welcome.

Above Photo: Miami International Airport. The “Spirit of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker” adorns the nose of N276EA. The World War I fighter ace and national hero also lead the original Eastern. He was nearly killed in the crash of Eastern flight 21 at Candler Field (now Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport) on February 26, 1941.

Above Photo: Miami International Airport. At the welcoming ceremonies MIA Director Emilio T. Gonzalez presents Eastern CEO Ed Wegel a vintage photo of the 36th Street Terminal at Miami International circa 1949.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Before landing, the flight crew in coordination with the Miami ATCT performed a low-altitude fly-by of runway 08L-26R at Miami International Airport. MIA lost two hub airlines in 1991, the first Eastern in January and Pan Am in December. Both names live on in South Florida with the many former employees living in Florida. There is no name recognition problem for the new Eastern in South Florida.