Comments on: Will Eastern Airlines be resurrected and fly again?

By: Matt Rosengarten

Matt Rosengarten — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:18:17 +0000

I remember my last EAL flight out of Newark in 1970. I was just discharged from the Air Force. The stewardess asked me to sit in first class since the plane was nearly empty. I had a wonderful lunch and I felt like a million bucks. They knew how to treat you and they loved their airline. Frank Borman may have floan to the moon but this dream would be a more welcome sight to someone who remembers. I know what government deregulation did to the airlines as well as the banks. It allowed corporate greed, stupidity, and flat out killed the hopes of looking to the future. I suggest they hire Richard Branson to run the show. I don’t think there are but a handful of great CEO’s in the airline business today. Cost cutting and laying it on the employees to keep them flying is what they are all about. How about modernizing the ATC and possibly closing the FAA and appointing industry wide standards of self regulation. No more nice guys in Washington to keep us safely flying in the sky. Let’s make the system work for all

By: Ned Levi

Ned Levi — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:07:55 +0000

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.

By: chris

chris — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:22:43 +0000

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

By: Michael Barrett

Michael Barrett — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:11:43 +0000

So, what’s the latest on this possible resurrection?

By: Maggie

Maggie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:18:14 +0000

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

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:27:09 +0000

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.

By: Michael Riley

Michael Riley — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:38:33 +0000

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.

By: Jim Miller/focusoninfinity

Jim Miller/focusoninfinity — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:35:17 +0000

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?

By: Susie Phelps

Susie Phelps — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:14:38 +0000

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 “.

By: Diane Huettig

Diane Huettig — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:12:22 +0000

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!