Tag Archives: Eastern

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 Eastern name to return to the skies of South Florida this afternoon

Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. (2nd) (Miami) today will bring back the Eastern name to the skies of South Florida. Boeing 737-8AL N276EA (msn 35070, ex 5Y-KYB) departed Shannon at 0026 UTC this morning bound for Portsmouth, New Hampshire (PSM). After clearing customs and immigration and refueling the 737 will continue to Miami International Airport (MIA). The aircraft will fly down the coast of South Florida to South Beach before turning to MIA where it is expected to arrive around 1500 (3 pm) to the traditional water cannon salute and official welcome. N276EA will be utilized for crew training and the FAA airline certification process. Once the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) is obtained in 2015 the airline is expected to start operations as a charter airline.

Above: The aircraft has now stopped at Portsmouth. Follow the progress of N276EA via FlightAware: CLICK HERE

The new Eastern describes its current status on its website:

In late 2011, a professional group of airline managers acquired the intellectual property of Eastern Air Lines to develop a new business and financing plan to re-launch the airline, and formed Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc.

The team put together a plan to re-launch Eastern to be based at Miami International Airport (“MIA”). It quickly established working relationships with strategic partners including the Miami Airport Authority, Amadeus and Boeing.

Eastern’s relationship with Amadeus dates back to Eastern’s reservation system, called System One. This system was eventually sold by Eastern and later became the core of the Amadeus system. Eastern also has a special and unique relationship with Boeing dating back to the 1930s– Eastern was the first to operate the Boeing 727 and the 757.

The team developed a multi-level business and financing plan that was successfully used to raise the capital required for Eastern to be certified under FAA Regulation Part 121. That work has commenced, led by one of the industry’s leading certification consultants, Locked On. Today, the new Eastern is working with various industry-leading aircraft leasing companies to assemble a fleet of 737–Next Generation aircraft, and has signed an initial order with Boeing for new 737-800 aircraft with deliveries commencing in April 2017.

In addition, Eastern has moved into its headquarters office space at Building 5A at MIA, which was the former Eastern Operations Center, a four story building at the corner of LeJeune and 36th Street, and which once housed all of Eastern’s system control and maintenance control centers, and other operating units.

Eastern has commenced its filings with the DOT and is currently preparing its formal submissions for the FAA. See News and Press Releases for updates.

Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. has also formed several subsidiaries to assist in its growth in the years to come. These subsidiaries are “Eastern Shuttle” and “Eastern Express.” As well, Eastern has formed its new mileage and loyalty program, called “LatinOnePass,” also known as “LatinOne.”

Top Photo: Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. A rainbow glistens the first aircraft of the new Eastern at Shannon. The aircraft is now registered as N276EA and appropriately named the “Spirit of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker”.

Below Photo: Eastern Air Lines Group: The uniforms of the new Eastern:

A look back: Eastern Airlines (1st) 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.

Video: TV commercials from the original Eastern Airlines:

The new Eastern is searching for up to 10 used jetliners to start as a charter airline

Eastern Air Lines (2nd) (Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc.) (Miami) headed by CEO Ed Wegel, wants to revive the Eastern name as previously reported. The paper airline now is searching for used airliners to start operations as a charter airline according to this article by Bloomberg Businessweek. New airplanes would have to wait until the prospective airline decides to start scheduled operations.

According to the article, “Eastern recently completed a private placement of voting common stock to raise $9 million to $14 million” which was deemed “a success” by Wegel. Eastern will need to obtain a Part 121 air operators certificate (AOC) before operations can begin.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

On January 28, 2014 Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. issued this statement:

Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. has filed an application with the United States Department of Transportation for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Eastern plans on commencing its Part 121 certification with the Federal Aviation Administration shortly and has retained legal counsel and consultants for this purpose.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to launch an airline bearing the iconic Eastern Air Lines name,” said Eastern’s President and CEO Edward Wegel. “We have recruited a world class board of directors and a highly experienced management team to guide and lead this effort.”

About Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc.

Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. was formed to re-launch Eastern Air Lines as a passenger airline using the Airbus A320 aircraft from its main base of operations at Miami International Airport (MIA). Eastern’s headquarters is located in Building 5A at MIA.

Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. is not affiliated with the former Eastern Air Lines, which operated from 1928 to 1991 as one of the largest U.S. domestic air carriers.

Image Below: Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc.