This doesn’t seem like an auspicious time to try and start, or re-start an airline, but a group of former Eastern Airlines employees and an investor group are exploring the rebirth of Eastern.
In a letter circulated to former Eastern Airlines employees, an investor group announced that they have “concluded a deal with the Eastern Airlines estate to acquire the name, trademarks and affiliate names (including Eastern Express and Eastern Shuttle) for the purpose of re-starting the airline as a scheduled airline.”
Ed Wegel, a veteran of the airline world and current CEO of Eastern Airlines, Inc., told former Eastern Airlines employees, “We have developed a business plan for the re-start of Eastern which leverages off of Eastern’s core strengths while using all of the lessons we have learned from all of the start up airlines and the restructuring of all of the legacy carriers over the past 18 years.”
According to this letter, the new airline management will break new ground with contracts with the new Eastern’s crew members and a stock ownership plan that will completely align everyone’s interest in the new company.
Wegel closed out his letter to former Eastern employees with a paean to the workers at Eastern.
One of Eastern’s greatest assets was its people, and we have formed an advisory group with volunteer representatives from marketing, sales, in-flight, facilities, maintenance, and ops. We want to retain the creativity, energy and vision that epitomized the Eastern that flew for over 70 years, and created the Shuttle, System One and countless other innovations.
Ed Wegel, certainly has the credentials and some of the investment-community connections that might make this resurrection a success: CEO, Eastern Airlines, Inc., April 2006 — Present; President, BWIA, 1994 — 1996); SVP, Atlantic Coast Airlines, 1991 — 1996; AVP, Shearson Lehman, 1987 — 1991; Manager, Pan American World Airways, 1985 — 1988; and Manager, Eastern Airlines 1985 — 1987.
The investment group plans to acquire 30 new Airbus aircraft and faces re-certification of Eastern with the FAA and DOT. Getting financing is certainly going to be tough in this current economic environment.
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Sorry Larry, but it was Frank Lorenzo, with the help of Pres. Bush Sr. and Elizabeth Dole to stop the binding arbitration, that forced the strike..
I am a former flight attendant with EAL. I would love to see the name resurrected. It was a great company at times and can be again with smart management.
Kiwi??? Does anyone remember KIWI??? It was fun but we lost our investment, forfeighted paychecks more time than I can count, and would do it again. We tried to revive EAL and put hearts and soul into it. (Then there was the gruop that tried to restart ‘Pan Am’ in NH….oy vey, what a joke.)
We survived the strike and Frank Lorenzo w/o scabbing or losing our homes or getting divorced (like many others). The old EAL is gone and dead, except in our hearts and memories.
Don’t want to see a disrespectful “resurrection” in today’s aviation and economic climate
I have flown on Eastern Airlines many times in the past. It was one of my favorite Airlines. I would love to see it resurrect and fly again. can’t hardly wait to fly with EAL again.
Alexander
This will never happen you need a 121 cert# 1 A/C leasees are 100,000 a month ,folks ,Gates ,fuel, landing ,i could go on and on ,i wish it would be true ,but excuse the pun ,it is PIE in the sky.
Ron Pye
I personally met Mr. Wegel and “George” the EAL photographer on one of my flights. If anyone has the ability to bring EAL back, it will be him! I’m sure he is aware of all the certificates, fueling, landing fees etc., etc., that are required, he’s not stupid. Bring EAL back, I’ll attend the first flight out !
I too, worked for Eastern for 15years, I also remember another “FAT CAT” who tried to make $ off of Eastern, does “TRUMP” ring a bell? For all of ue who loved Eastern and walked the line to keep Eastern. Those days are gone….let the past rest in peace.
For Larry/Jim Moore Re: May 17 2009 entries;
Hello Gentlemen: It is a shame that Frank hurt many folks. It, no matter how we dice it, always rolls back to corporate greed.
The folks who dedicated their life to Eastern, and many of them now, applying for their pension, to find out it is not what they were promise when they started.
Percentages of pensions taken from the folks who make the world turn, like you and I.
I never worked for Eastern, but am 55 years of age and remember them very well.
Besides being a Public Transit Veteran and Labor Advocate of 26 years, am President of “Return Eastern Airline Pensions”, an Organization started about two and a half years ago. Unfortunately, their are Eastern Employees who think that nobody lost some of their pension. Not True, my friends.
Wish the new Eastern luck or not, but in the meantime, use some energy to pick up a phone and call your local office of your State Senator and demand that the E.A.L. employees, who were stolen from, be made whole and their entire, earned pension retrieved.
Dan Delaney
Hi Dan, Jim Moore here.. My pension is only 28% of what I was supposed to get for early retirement after working only 21 years. I get it from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Plus I am getting my Social Security.
At 70 years and the wife at 65, we get buy
JIm Moore
After 42 glorious years with EAL, in many classifications at LGA-JFK and start up of BOS in 1944, I retired, and because of my background in starting the Air Shuttle,was called by Pan Am to come aboard as a Consultant, in assisting them in statrting up a Pan Am Shuttle. I am thrilled to hear about the restart of my alma mater, and stand ready to assist in the NY area. I would recomend consideration be given to some Pan Am Shuttle start up personnel-ie: Harris Herman (President and start up key figure), What a feeling to see that DC-7 picture, and hear about the tremendous effort given to rebuild it to flying condition. Plans are to bring EAL back to the “Rickenbacker” days–where the strength of the airline was in its” family “structure. If we can go back to the days of yesteryear–EAL cannot fail.I
Do we really need yet another American style airline?
When will we see, if ever, an airline the likes of Emirates in the USA? More than likely never! American carriers are tin cans with a toilet compared to Emirates.
So what’s the point of resurrecting Eastern other than for nostalgia?
The only way EAL could establish route structure would be to buyout failing carriers, or they would operate as a subcontract under larger carriers who wish not to expand their fleet… sort of how comair and ASA operate delta connection on the east coast. Again i say… good luck.
As a survivor from 1984 with TWA, and “Uncle Carl Icahn”, I remember all-to-well the demise of our brothers and sisters at Eastern. Ironically, some may not know that ALPA and the other unions on the TWA property practically begged Carl to save us from…. Frank Lorenzo in 1985. It’s a fact. Anyways, after working in Miami for a few years with many former EAL employees, I’d be glad to help bring back “The Wings of Man”. I see the gleam in their eyes, for their hearts and minds still remember WHY we went to work for these carriers in the 70s and 80s!
PAN AM WAS A BETTER AIRLINE
I think they could do very well. And if they want to hire me back I will help them!!! My dad worked for Eastern for over 35 years. I worked in collections till 1990 and I loved it!
I have fond memories of Eastern Airlines as a child. Especially their involvement with Walt Disney World. (I went there last year and rode the Buzz Lightyear ride that is there in it’s place just to see the ride again and the ‘takeoff” section is still in tact.)
I hated it when Lorenzo destroyed it. If this investor group can start small and build from within following Southwest’s model…you might have something there. They’ll have quite a few giants to compete with…but the history of industry leadership and innovation says-They CAN do it!
I see a lot of misty-eyed nostalgia in these posts. Please be clear: we cannot and will not resurrect the levels of service that existed on airlines in 1970.
The foreign carriers you’re citing with such admiration–Emirates, for instance–are either explicit or de facto national carriers bankrolled by creditor nations (which the U.S. is not). Think about it. How many U.S. airlines still offer meals in coach? (One, actually: Continental. If you want to remember the golden age, they’re the closest you’ll find.)
Whatever logo or name this new company uses, it will not reflect what many of you are remembering. That Eastern is an airline that long ceased to exist and will never exist again.
I worked for Eastern before moving on to System One. I must say though that any restart of the airline has to seriously consider not bringing back the “insane” unions and union management that bit their nose off to spite themselves. Yes, Lorenzo, and others, did great damage to Eastern but history and facts show that it was the unions and union management that nailed the Eastern coffin closed!
I could not pass this chance up i’am an eastern brat who’s dad worked for eastern as a mechanic at jfk for 18 yrs . i my self am an a/c mechanic for a well repected foreign carrier at jfk now . but always dreamed of working with my dad at eastern. growing up i loved that airline as much s he did and spent alot of fre time hanging around old hanger#9 when he was working. it was a real tight family.
i have read just about all these comments and do have somethings to add
1. never say never if the right people are going to start the airline with plenty of capital and a strong buisness model for the airline then i don’t care how bad the encomy is it will work . case in point jetblue started prior 9/11 but the industry was in a down turn and where are they now. everyone had the same nay sayer attiude but were proven wrong.
2. okay some people need to get there airline history straight kiwi airlines was not just started by ex eastern people there were quite a few panam people there to who started kiwi. you could never compare eastern to panam since panam was mainly an overseas carrier . who had a very weak domestic route system they tried to remedy this by purchasing national airlines right before deregulation.
3. given the oppurtunity i’am throwing my name in the hat and saying i would proud and honored to work for the new eastern and prove that this plan can work and eastern will once again set the standard for everyone else to copy!
ople there were quite a few panam people there to who started kiwi. you could never compare eastern to panam since panam was mainly an overseas carrier . who had a very weak domestic route system they tried to remedy this by purchasing national airlines right before deregulation.
3. given the oppurtunity i’am throwing my name in the hat and saying i would proud and honored to work for the new eastern and prove that this pl
it*s about time someone is stepping up with this plan.I wish you the very best of luck on this decision…people have the right to doubt and criticize…I never worked with eastern airlines but always flew on it to and from sanjuan to jfk since the age of 4. until the airline went completly out of bussines I work with an airline as a ramp agent and I*m proud of my work .Iwould like to work with the airline once you start it… good luck….. how long does it really takes for this to really happend ?
My Father was a Manager for Eastern , Boston for many years. I also worked for Eastern as a Skycap . My Father was very proud of his Career with the Airline and would be proud to here the talk of its comeback. I have fond memories of working in Boston and to this day call it the best job I ever had. On my wall in my office I have a picture of an Eastern plane that reads ‘Eastern… gone but not forgotten’ . If the powers at be could ever make such an idea a reality would be awesome ! Best of Luck , keep us posted . P.S> I may even consider a comeback to the Airline, just to be part of it!
I worked in ROC for the best four years of my life…I’d go back in a second…good luck!
I was the child who wanted to be an industry legacy employee. No luck in 79–80, despite several F/A interviews. Grabbed a chance at MX USA RES in mid-90’s, was with them for 2+ years. Was able to share my experiences with Daddy before he passed in 98.
All this background to say:
–I wish Mr. Wegel & co. all success. Have already asked my broker to watch for an IPO. Even if prognosis is poor, I want one share.
–Watch this website for roll-out and inaugural flight of restored EAL DC-7.
http://community-2.webtv.net/DC7B/DC7BN836D/
My Grandma always tells me how good EAL, was, and i always wonderd how it would be to fly with them. Sure an Airline is an Airline, but we need one that is low coast, and has friendly crew, and Eastern sounded like the one to do just that! ( just have flights to and from Detroit Metro airpot Please!!)
I started in ‘66 in Air Freight Reservations. Worked Atl Ticket Counter, Mia Ticket Counter, System One Mia and Atl System Weight and Balance. Total of 25 years. It like many others was my life. I loved it and hope to see a come back.
I am a former EAL ( BOSRR) and my grandfather was an EVP for the carrier – Frank Williams. I would be proud to be an EAL employee again! Make it happen guys!
I was with EAL from 1974-1987. If you need assistance in certifying the new Eastern Airbus fleet; I am available as a consultant. I was on the Inflight certification/integration team at USAirways when they certified/integrated the A319/320/321/330 fleet. I have experience with the hangar certification and corresponding inflight proving runs along with the education and selection of the crews. After attending Airbus training in Toulouse, I became the SME for the onboard CIDS, cabin intercommunication data system, and designed the inflight Airbus programs, initial and transition, according to FAA mandates. Using the Airbus only fleet diminishes the need for a surplus of spare parts, as the same parts are used for all Airbus fleet types. Looking forward to the “rebirth” with the new business model. The “Wings of Man” may become the “Enlightened Phoenix “.
I was EA RDU ramp service in the mid to late 1960’s and left before the bad times. I loved EA.
A new, succesful, old-style EA would be great; but not likely to succeed. To succeed a new Eastern would likely need a “nich”, a unique product. Not just another revived, “legacy” airline.
None of these examples would likely be THEE right one; I throw them out as simply new , alternative, thinking:
1. Most overnight hub-&-spoke airlines overnight their aircraft away from the hub., where overnight flight crews are away from their own hearth and home, and their families moralwise; airlines have food and room costs, and stocking enough parts and mechanics in the outback is costly for overnight maintence, so…
2, … reversing the process; economically could it work with all overnight aricraft, all mechanics, and parts at the hub? For examply You could have one specialized (Repairmen not A&P’s) do all tire and brake changes with dedicated specialized equipment.
3. Another angle: Most airlines fly in the daytime and do maintenance at night. Eastern could have centralized day-time hub maintenance and fly cheap night flights only to night-open airports.
4. Another unique scheme with several varied unions, but one contract for all unions. The top 20% of pilots pay and benefits would filter down by percentages for other crafts, like F/A’s, A&P’s, ramp service, agents. Even the CEO’s salary might be 200% of the average of the top 10% of the pilots, and the V.P.’s 150%; on down the management chain.
Any other unique nitch ideas? Likely they need to be better that these?
EAL during the 70’s operated as a first class airline. When hard times hit so did greed (which is why we are in the position we are today in America). In my opinion if we could have gotten rid of the two Franks and their egos the employees could have turned the company around with good leadership. Yes times are bad to try and start up an airline BUT if Virgin America can make it why couldn’t a rebirth of EAL. I agree with some of the statements here about International airlines. They still understand customer service. AA is going to be on a rocky road in 2010. Virgin will grow and others will enter the field. A risky investment yes, but what investment isn’t risky today. Setup correctly with a management team that respects and understands that money is made by the from line employees not the ivory towers will do well in the new economy. If I had a chance I would take the risk.
My dad worked for Easten Airlines for 33 years. His retirement was 500.00 a month after they lost everything. I myself worked there for 6 years and loved working there. It was Borman and Lorenzo and Bush Sr. They had the idea to break the union from what I can remember.
Well this is amazing, I never thought that I would be reading the above Yes, pure nostalgia for a company with the best front line people, not sure about management, but definitely a legent in the airline industry especially for us who were part of the whole roller coaster. I worked for EA out of Montreal as a reservations and airport agent. It was my first and best job after graduating from Concordia University. By the way I wouldl ove to find out about Mr. Harold Moss the best ever Regional manager from Boston, who took grerat care of the Montrea base. Without a doubt we are al feeling the nostalgia of EA.
Maggie Benardou
Orangeville, Ontario
So, what’s the latest on this possible resurrection?
I remember EAL growing up in the 70’s and 80’s
i think it would be great to see a legacy carrier come back i would go to work in a hearbeat with them would like to be a station manager
I have a lot of wonderful memories flying with Eastern.
My first flight was on Eastern, from Idlewild Airport, New York (JFK) to San Juan International, in 1955. The flight was in a DC-7B Golden Falcon. The flight took about 5 hours, each way. I have no idea how much it cost, but my father told me not long ago, “It wasn’t cheap.”
Flying in those days was very different. During the flight I got to sit in the co-pilot seat for a while. (I don’t think that would happen with the new Eastern.) There was a lounge in the back of the plane with tables set up where you could play cards and other games.
Everyone got plenty of food on the flights in those days, and it was far better than anything in first class these days.
I know those days are gone forever, but a new/old airline, competing against the current ones, could make the rational judgment that good customer service actually improves the “bottom line,” something today’s airlines, even the better ones have mostly forgotten, and actually succeed using that mantra.
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