Eastern Airlines starting in US

[Smoknjoe]

Just curious about a persistant rumor in the US.
The rumor is that someone has aquired the rights to the Eastern name and logo etc and is planning to start operations using an excisting operating certificate.
Plans are to use about 30 A320 series aircraft to start, mainly out of MIA.
Any idea as to what operating certificate might be available for this?

Any substantial info would be appreciated.
Take care.
Joe.

[Thug Life]

I seriously doubt that operating certificate would still exist...

[Smoknjoe]

The idea would be to use an excisting certificate. For excample USA3000, Sun country or Ryan, or any other smaller operation curently in need of help. And that is a long list of names right now....

Take care.
Joe.

[galaxy flyer]

I flew for EAL for 5 years, '84-'89, and coming from Connecticut flew them a lot growing up. I hope to hell someone doesn't revive the name.

With due respect to BelArgUSA, some old names, once gone, need to stay gone. The Pan Am "revivals" by a railroad company; the varieties of Braniff, the lot are all an embarrassment to those who proudly built them and saw them fail.

GF

[con-pilot]

With due respect to BelArgUSA, some old names, once gone, need to stay gone. The Pan Am "revivals" by a railroad company; the varieties of Braniff, the lot are all an embarrassment to those who proudly built them and saw them fail.


I agree, there was only one Pan American World Airways, which became just PanAm, and it needs to stay that way.

[Smoknjoe]

Here is the link to this disussion in another section.
http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/373155-rumor-du-jour-investors-buying-eastern-name-usa3000-airways-certificate.html#post4926562

This topic is being talked about on some other boards also. Ill try to post the links later.

On Airliners.net.
Rumor: USA 3000....the Next "Eastern?" — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/4402884/)

On Flightinfo.com.
Flightinfo.com Hangar (http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=121423)

Take care.
Joe.

[NEDude]

Here is the deal gathered from news reports:

Eastern Airlines sole remaining employee, Ronald T Bevins Jr, who is the steward of the last remaining assets and trademarks of the original company, signed a deal with airline industry veteran Edward Wegel (Mesa, Chautauqua, Atlantic Coast, BWIA) to sell the Eastern name and logo to a group controlled by Wegel. There was a short lived lawsuit brought by a company in Pennsylvania which claimed to have the rights to the name, but Wegel's group won that. Now Wegel is trying to get Eastern flying again. That much is fact from several news reports - you can do a google search on "New Eastern Airlines" or "Edward Wegel" and get that info.

Now the rumor is that Wegel has been in talks with the Apple Vacations group about investing in USA 3000 Airlines, Apple's wholly owned subsidiary. From what I have heard, it would be a 51% investment. Wegel would then change the marketing name to Eastern Airlines and start operations out of Miami with 25-30 A320s. Apple, being a minority investor, would use Eastern as its primary airline for Apple Vacations packages.

Advantages for Apple - still the ability to have some control over its air travel product - the original reason for starting USA 3000 - without having to shoulder the entire risk of running an airline that it cannot support on a year round basis.

Advantages for Wegel - a turnkey airline complete with certificate, crews, dispatchers and aircraft. Also has guaranteed passengers from Apple providing approximately 30% of its passenger load right off the bat, before having to advertise, sell tickets, or competing with any other carrier.

[Smoknjoe]

Makes sence. Any idea on the timeline? The boredom from being furloughed is setting in. Did you get the axe too?

Take care.
Joe.

[NEDude]

Yeah, this rumor actually seems to make sense. Not far fetched like other rumors I have heard.

I too got the axe. Apparently the scheduling guys from the union have said recall notices will be going out within a few weeks. No word on numbers but my guess is 10-12 based on what was being said just before we hit the street.

There is a check airman meeting next week, and Harfst is supposed to be there. Hopefully there will be some info coming out of that.

You know if this rumor actually does come true, not only would we all be back on property, we'd all be in the left seat as well.

Keeping fingers crossed, but not holding my breath.

[Smoknjoe]

Right on...
With 10-12 i am danger close.. I was in the first fall 07 class...Where does that put you? If you mind telling its no prob.....
Lets see if Harfts shows up for this meeting, guess he might since its not a union meeting LOL.
Guess all we can do at this point is sit back and collect our unemployment check and wait...

Take care.
Joe.

[NEDude]

Do you know what the cutoff point was? I am slightly ahead of you and thought 10-12 would leave me standing outside by a few numbers.

[Smoknjoe]

Well...Cant get on the CO web anymore LOL...But if memory serves 87 was the last man standing. 12 recals makes 99, im still short by a few. But I think that takes care of everyone on property BEFORE my class.

Take care.
Joe.

[GlueBall]

Martin Shugrue, the ex PanAm jock, and not one of the brightest, had made a mess of Eastern-2, the "New Eastern Airlines." He tried to run the outfit with an army of former EAL scabs. It's hard to make chicken salad out of chicken ****. :{

[Smoknjoe]

So. this deal is dead? Who is Martin Shogrue? The name of the guy attempting to re start Eastern was different.
You can find it in the links in posts above. Please let me know if you think it is the same deal.

Take care.
Joe.

[Bus Junkie]

According to "Lucky" this rumor is amusing but not real. I'd trust the word of a CEO, wouldn't you? They don't lie......
Geese Joe, how young are you not to have heard of Martin Shugrue?

[NEDude]

Just spoke to a friend in the training department at U3K. A few weeks ago there was a training dept meeting with the Steve Harfst (CEO) and there was discussion about the future of the company. Harfst stated that Apple has sold 49% of the company to "someone else" and there was now a board of directors that had to approve any growth. At this point the BOD is not interested in spending money on growth and the plan for fall is 7 airplanes and dropping down to 5 airplanes in the middle of the busy season next winter.

Now my question is who is this "someone else", and why would they invest in an airline in this environment for the purpose of shrinking it. Doesn't add up to me.

Probably could find some info on DOT website. I'll do some searching...

[thirtyfeetretard]

Harfst was talking about the investors in Apple's hotels, or basically AMR resorts, := not specifically U3k. That money went into hotel building before Angus left.

Craig :eek:(training) was saying in groundschool that Eastern was the investor. Never quotes sources. I think he reads this site and it's creating its own :mad:rumors!

[thirtyfeetretard]

The investors were investing in AMR Resorts, := not U3K. The money went into hotels.

[Smoknjoe]

HUH..
So Pink shirt boy :p is just stirring the pot :mad: .....Nice....:ugh:

Take care.
Joe.