Tag Archives: 35070

Eastern Air Lines operates its first revenue flight

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) (Miami) after initially announcing it would start revenue passenger operations on the morning of May 27, the new airline and HavanaAir delayed the first charter flight to May 28. The historic first flight, flight EE 3145 departed Miami bound for Havana at 2:26 pm (1426) on May 28 per FlightAware.

Copyright Photo: L. Apso. This historic photo above captures Boeing 737-8AL N276EA (msn 35070) taxiing out to the runway at Miami International Airport on its first revenue flight to Havana on May 28.

Today (May 29) N276EA is operating a round trip to Camaguey, Cuba.

Eastern Air Lines and HavanaAir Charters to operate daily air service to Cuba

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) (Miami) which is still planning to operate its first revenue charter flight on May 30, has issued this statement:

Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. and HavanaAir Charters, LLC, have signed on May 22 an agreement, to support HavanaAir’s charter operations to Cuba. HavanaAir is the largest provider of passenger traffic to the island, currently operating 65 flights a month to Havana from Miami with additional service to Santa Clara and Camaguey. The partnership will eventually include additional approved U.S. gateway cities.

Eastern will operate the Boeing 737-800 (Next Generation) aircraft, configured with 16 First Class seats and 129 Coach seats in the main cabin on all flights to Cuba.

“We are very pleased to partner with Eastern Air Lines. Eastern earned iconic status in the U.S. airline industry for decades and we are both honored and privileged to partner with their highly experienced management. Our partnership with Eastern will provide an entirely new level of service to Cuba with their Next Generation Boeing aircraft and their commitment to excellent customer service.” said Mark Elias, President and COO of HavanaAir Charters.

“We are excited to partner with HavanaAir Charters. Eastern was formerly the largest provider of air seats in the Cuba market, and with this agreement, Eastern will once again provide more seats to Cuba than any other U.S. carrier. Cuba is and always will be a very important market for Eastern as we grow our airline and we look forward to proving service from additional U.S. gateways along with our home airport of Miami International”, said Ed Wegel, President & CEO of Eastern.

Key Facts:

Eastern will operate for HavanaAir twice daily service to Havana and weekly service to Camaguey and Santa Clara.

Eastern will support HavanaAir’s existing operations to Cuba with some 65 flights monthly.

Eastern and HavanaAir will be launching service from other U.S. gateways within 60 days.

Copyright Photo below: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Eastern Air Lines (2nd) Boeing 737-8AL WL N276EA (msn 35070) arrives at the Miami base.

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) aircraft slide show:

The Eastern name is back! – Eastern Air Lines receives its Part 121 AOC

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) (Miami) has brought back the Eastern name to South Florida skies. The airline concluded its FAA proving flights on May 5 and today (May 13) formally received its Part 121 Air Operators Certificate (AOC) in Miami. The new airline issued this statement:

Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. is pleased to report that its operating subsidiary, Eastern Air Lines, has received an Air Carrier Operating Certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration. Eastern received its certificate and “Part 121” operations specifications, which authorize passenger charters with large aircraft, in a short ceremony today at Eastern’s headquarters in Building 5A at Miami International Airport. (Bldg 5A served as Eastern’s Operation Center from 1965-1991).

“We are honored and humbled to have been selected to bring the Eastern Air Lines name and legacy back to the skies, and the receipt of our 121 certification is the culmination of several years of planning and, over the last year, intense preparations by our team to meet all FAA requirements. During our proving run flights with the FAA, we flew our aircraft to Dallas, San Antonio, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Columbus (Ohio) and Colorado Springs, and we received a great reception in each city and were proud to show off our colors once again,” said Ed Wegel, Eastern’s founder and CEO. “We are also pleased that our certificate will be held in the South Florida CMO, which is Eastern’s home base,” Wegel added.

Photo Above: Eastern Air Lines. N276EA at San Juan on a FAA proving flight.

Eastern will be announcing its initial charter operations shortly and has recently concluded deals for additional 737-800s (below).

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Eastern). Boeing 737-8AL N276EA (msn 35070) lands at Miami International Airport (MIA).

The original Eastern Airlines aircraft slide show:

The new Eastern is planning to start operations on May 30 with an Honor Flight to Washington area

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) (Miami) is tentatively planning to commence revenue passenger charter operations on May 30 with a Boeing 737-800 charter flight from Miami to the Washington area (planned for BWI) according to the company. The first flight is contingent on receiving its Part 121 AOC. The company is advertising its first flight will be an Honor Flight bringing World War II and Korean War era veterans from South Florida to Washington and return.

On April 20 the new airline announced it had been tentatively been found fit by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and “is owned by a citizen of the U.S. and is fit, willing, and able to conduct interstate and foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail as a U.S. Certificated air carrier.”

The new airline also announced on April 20 its second flight attendant class started on the same day and the next pilot class will start on May 4.

Eastern will now start its FAA proving flights as a necessary next step towards receiving its Part 12 Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

Top Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. The first Boeing 737, the pictured ex-Kenya Airways Boeing 737-8AL N276EA (msn 35070), arrived with much fanfare and celebrations at Miami International Airport (MIA) on December 19, 2014. Since then the prospective airline has been going through the extensive certification process. New passenger airlines in the United States have become a rarity in the current airline consolidation period.

Eastern Airlines (1st) aircraft slide show:

Below: Eastern’s new flight attendant uniforms (Eastern Air Lines):

The new Eastern targets mid-March as launch date for charters pending FAA certification

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) (Eastern Air Lines Group) (Miami) is targeting mid-March as a possible start of charter operations pending its FAA part 121 certification process according to this article by the Miami Herald. Ultimately the new carrier will offer scheduled passenger operations with a focus on Latin America. Ironically the original Eastern sold its Latin American routes authorities to American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth). This sale led to the creation of American’s fortress Miami International Airport hub. The new Eastern will compete against American Airlines at MIA along with Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways from nearby Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and other foreign carriers at both airports. In other words, it is already a crowded field.

In its favor, the Eastern name has an instant brand identification in the South Florida market although both carriers are separate airlines with distinct investors.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. The former Kenya Airways Boeing 737-8AL N276EA (msn 35070) arrived at Miami International Airport to a large welcoming celebration on December 19, 2014. It is currently being modified to meet FAA standards.

The original Eastern aircraft slide show:

The Eastern name is back in Miami after nearly 24 years

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.

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:

Surinam Airways aircraft slide show:

The first new Eastern Boeing 737-800 is rolled out of the paint shop at Shannon

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) (Miami) this week will take delivery of its first Boeing 737-800. Today (November 4) the former Kenya Airways Boeing 737-8AL 5Y-KYB (msn 35070) was rolled out of the Eirtech hangar at Shannon in full Eastern livery. The 737 is named the “Spirit of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker” and will become N276EA on delivery. N276EA is due to arrive in Miami later this week.