EAL EASTERN Frequent-flyer program LatinOnePass Headquarters Florida Fleet size 6 | Commenced operations May 28, 2015 Destinations 4 Founded 2011 | |
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Eastern Air Lines is an airline based in Miami, Florida, founded in 2011. It operates charter flights between Miami and destinations in the United States, Caribbean and Latin America and planned to begin scheduled operations in 2016.
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History
The ownership group, Eastern Air Lines Group, purchased the intellectual property, including trademarks, of the original Eastern Air Lines in 2009, and announced in early 2014 that it had filed an application with the United States Department of Transportation for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, which would be followed by certification with the Federal Aviation Administration. On May 28, 2015, Eastern launched charter flights with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft from Miami International Airport (MIA) to José Martí International Airport in Havana and back to MIA. Two days later, the airline flew as part of Honor Flight, flying 60 veterans to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. Scheduled service was planned to follow 12 to 18 months later.
On June 5, 2016, Eastern Air Lines flew the body of Muhammad Ali from Phoenix, Arizona to Louisville, Kentucky on one of its 737s.
Eastern Air Lines signed a three-year agreement in 2015 August to become the “Official Airline” for University of Miami Athletics. Eastern operates charter flights for some professional sports teams (Florida Panthers, San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins, Oakland A's, Portland Timbers) and other colleges (Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University). It operates a scheduled charter operation to Cuba serving six cities. Eastern also operates charters to the Caribbean and Latin America (Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Guyana, Haiti).
The new Eastern Air Lines operates from Building 5A at Miami International Airport. The building used to house the system and maintenance control centers of the original airline.
Destinations
Eastern Air Lines is operating charter flights between Miami and Cuba, in a partnership with Havana Air. Other destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America are planned, pending contract signing.
FAA certification is expected 12 to 18 months after charter operations began. Once certified, the airline will commence scheduled operations. Eastern plans to maintain its focus on the Caribbean and Latin America.
Frequent-flyer program
The airline has announced that its frequent-flyer program will be called LatinOnePass, partially taking the name "OnePass" of the former Eastern Airlines' program (which was then sold to Continental).
Fleet
The Eastern Air Lines fleet comprises the following aircraft (as of August 2016):
The Eastern Air Lines Group has placed orders for ten Boeing 737-800s, with the rights to purchase an additional ten 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The company announced in July 2014 that it had placed an order for 20 Mitsubishi MRJ90s, with rights to an additional 20 of the regional jet. The first used Boeing 737-800 was delivered in December 2014. It is named the Spirit of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, after the early leader of the original Eastern Air Lines. On February 6, 2016, Eastern took delivery of its fifth aircraft, a used Boeing 737-800. This completed its first phase of aircraft acquisition.
Configuration plans call for 12 business class and 150 economy class seats in the Boeing aircraft, with room for 90 passengers in the Mitsubishi aircraft.