Eastern Airlines, which suspended operations in 1991, has been operating as a charter carrier since 1992, and has now acquired airline status from the United States Department of Transportation.
Eastern Airlines was sold to Texas Air in 1986, and TWA bought it from Texas Air in 1988. In 1991 Eastern Airlines was forced into bankruptcy protection and ceased operations after a prolonged labor dispute with its unions.
Frank Lorenzo, founder of Texas Air, is still involved in the industry with his Continental-Southwest merger.
Miami, FL, February 27, 2019 – Eastern Airlines, LLC has received Air Carrier Certificate (ACC) number EAL17 from the United States Department of Transportation. This certificate reinstates Eastern Airlines as a US Flag carrier for passenger and cargo operations.
“The issuance of this Air Carrier Certificate by the US Department of Transportation marks a significant milestone in our journey to return Eastern Airlines to air service,” said Edward Wegel, Eastern’s Executive Chairman. “We are very thankful to everyone who worked so hard to make this a reality.”
Eastern Airlines is currently focused on the acquisition of all necessary operating authorizations, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 121 certification and authority to operate scheduled and charter passenger services.
Eastern has also initiated discussions with aircraft manufacturers regarding the purchase of new passenger aircraft. The airline expects to serve several leisure markets in the Caribbean including Puerto Rico as well as other domestic routes and international destinations such as South America and Europe.
Eastern Airlines, a division of Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc., announced today that it has received its Economic Authorities from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Effective immediately, Eastern will be authorized to conduct charter flights and is preparing to begin scheduled passenger service.
“The company is very excited to receive our Economic Authorities,” said Ed Wegel, CEO of Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. “We believe there is great demand for the iconic Eastern brand.”
Eastern was founded in Miami in 1926 and in its heyday was a major U.S. airline operating across the country and around the world. The new Eastern is headquartered at Miami International Airport (MIA) with its operational focus on scheduled passenger service in the Caribbean and Latin America.
MIAMI, FLORIDA, FEBRUARY 15, 2018: Eastern Airlines was officially assigned its own US DOT Airline Carrier Code on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.
Eastern Airlines is now a full member of the IATA (International Air Transport Association) and is currently in the process of obtaining its own ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Airline Designator Code.
Eastern’s new CEO, Edward Wegel, said “We are thrilled to be back in the game with our own Airline Carrier Code. We have a lot of work ahead of us but we are confident that we will be flying by mid-year.”
Eastern Airlines, (IATA: EA / ICAO: EAL), is an American airline headquartered in Miami, Florida. It was a major airline in the U.S. from the 1930s until 1991, when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Since 2011, Eastern operates as a brand under a codeshare agreement with Republic Airways Holdings which operates flights for Eastern using its operating certificate under the name Eastern Shuttle.
History
Eastern was founded in 1926 as Pitcairn Aviation and started operations on April 7, 1926 with a flight from New York City to Atlanta via Philadelphia, Washington and Richmond. Originally owned by George Pitcairn, it became part of Avco in 1930 and then merged with North American Aviation in 1934. In 1938 Eastern had flights between Miami and Havana; Havana-New York City; New York City-Miami; Orlando-Tampa-St. Petersburg; Tampa-Orlando-Jacksonville; Jacksonville-Tampa and Jacksonville-Orlando-Miami. In the late 1940s it acquired Colonial Airlines (which added routes to Canada) and had routes between Florida and the Bahamas; New York City – Montreal – Toronto – Chicago – Kansas City – Denver – Los Angeles – San Francisco (via Salt Lake City); Philadelphia – Montreal – Toronto –
Eastern Airlines, the iconic US Airline, is back! Eastern Airlines announced today that it has signed an agreement with M&N Aviation to acquire the assets of the former Eastern Air Lines. The acquisition includes the Airline’s intellectual property including, but not limited to all trademarks, copyrights, domain names, and websites.
The Airline will be headquartered in Miami and will serve the Caribbean and Latin American markets. The airline will operate Boeing 767-200 aircraft wet leased from M&N Aviation. Eastern Airlines will begin operations in early 2016.
“We are thrilled to have signed this agreement with M&N Aviation to bring back Eastern Airlines,” said Ed Wegel, CEO of Eastern Airlines. “Eastern is an iconic brand that was loved by millions of travelers for decades before it ceased operations in 1991. The new Eastern has big plans for growth.”
Eastern Airlines was founded by World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker in 1927 under the name Pitcairn Aviation. Rickenbacker went on to be one of America’s most decorated soldiers of World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient.
The airline first flew between New York City and Atlanta using an airplane called “The Southern Cross.” In 1930, the airline adopted its current name after acquiring an air
EASTERN AIRLINES, INC. (OTCBB: EALA) announced today that it has received its Air Carrier Certificate (AOC) and Operating Specifications from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). These documents allow Eastern to legally resume scheduled operations in the US.
The DOT had previously granted Eastern a Foreign Air Carrier Permit to operate charters between the US and Cuba under a contract with Cuba Travel Services, Inc. This makes Eastern the only US airline with regularly scheduled flights to Cuba.
In addition to its Cuban operations, Eastern plans to offer regular scheduled service between the US and Latin America using leased aircraft. Initial flights will be between Miami and Santiago, Chile.
“We are pleased that we can now proceed with our plan to expand our presence in Latin America,” said Eastern Airlines Chairman, Edward Wegel. “This is another step in our strategy of building a global airline.”