The New Eastern Air Lines Just Ordered (MOU) 20 MRJs In addition to 737Max

[johnsonrod]

From Farnborough Air Show in UK today:



Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for an order for twenty firm MRJ90 with purchase rights to an additional twenty MRJ90s with the Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. (Eastern Airlines 2nd) (Miami). Based on this MOU, both companies will move forward to conclude a definitive agreement in the near future. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2019.

Eastern previously stated they had ordered the Boeing 737-800 in order to start operations. The proposed airline is still in the FAA certification process.

Edward J. Wegel, Eastern Air Lines Group President and CEO said, ?We are extremely impressed with the operating cost benefits of the MRJ with the geared turbofan engine, which reduces seat mile costs almost to the level of current 130 ? seater aircraft. This provides an excellent scheduling and route network advantage to Eastern as we look to add a second fleet type within five years.

Thus far, 325 MRJ are on order, including 25 (15 firm, 10 option) from All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., 100 (50 firm, 50 option) from Trans States Holdings, Inc. and 200 (100 firm, 100 option) from SkyWest, Inc.



Here's info on the 737-800/MAX order:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/re-launched-eastern-air-lines-orders-up-to-20-737s-399328/

 

[bafanguy]

Hmm, they sure have some ambitious plans.

 

[BUDDHA145]

Is this the same Air America people? That was a fiasco!

 

[hou757]

Smart move..

 

[johnsonrod]

Nobody said JetBlue would last a few years when it was started... Not saying Eastern will survive or thrive like JB has, but it sounds like they might have a plan out of South Florida. The brand is very strong on the East Coast and throughout the Caribbean and Latin/South America. Perhaps they see a need for long/thin routes that others are not operating or they feel the MRJ90 will be a good feeder for the 737s. Who knows.....

 

[PCL_128]

I'm beginning to think that they must have some serious private equity backers.

 

[johnsonrod]

Hiring is ramping up....

Looks like they are hiring for those who are willing to roll the dice...

Special consideration to those pilots with 737 and 757/767 type ratings:

http://easternairlines.aero/news/ea...g-pilots-1404164113.html#sthash.I8kMNY4U.dpbs

 

[hawkerflyer]

I'm no genius by any stretch of the imagination and being from Miami, I followed things pretty closely down there during the 70s and 80s with NA, EA and PA but you've got Jetblue and Spirit in FLL with SWA now throwing their hat into the mix flying South. AAL in MIA as strong as it gets in the Caribbean and Latin America along with countless foreign flag carriers. Am I missing something, but what could possibly make the new Eastern think they can successfully jump into the fray, brand recognition or not? I'd love nothing more than to see them succeed and to provide more jobs. I just don't see it.

 

[OurMoney1]

An action that is already raising their costs.
This will be interesting.

 

[jonjuan]

I'm beginning to think

Well, there you go....

It takes a few years of being in the industry to figure this out. EVERY decision by those in charge has to do with $$$$$$$$.

 

[amcnd]

Not sure "brand recognition" is going to help them. Mots the people that flew Eastern are 30+ Years older now and retired.. Hunkered down in retirement communities...

 

[dollacrackho]

Anybody that leaves a decent paying job to go this dump is nuts. Can't wait to see their pay rates. Let me guess 70$/ hr 737 captains and 10000 shares of worthless stock options. Where do I sign up. Can't wait to see this new shiny turd announce its shutting down. South Florida hub, ingenious!

 

[flyboyike]

Not sure "brand recognition" is going to help them. Mots the people that flew Eastern are 30+ Years older now and retired.. Hunkered down in retirement communities...

Or dead.

 

[Flydaplane]

This is the Chairman of the Board: Note Prometheus Partners is a developer of several Taco Bell, Pizza Hut & IHOP Brands (franchises) Maybe they'll serve Taco's and French Toast.

Bill Owens is the Chairman of AEA Investors ASIA, located in Hong Kong, and Executive Chairman of Prometheus Partners, based in Beijing. He serves on the Polycom, Wipro and Viasystems Group boards, as the Vice Chairman of the NYSE for Asia, and is currently the Chairman of CenturyLink Telecom (the third largest telecoms company in the US). He is the non-Executive Chairman of the private companies, Yangtze, Intelius, and FlowMobile.
Admiral Owens has served on the Board of Directors of over 20 public companies and has founded five technology companies; Lumera, Extend America, Amerilink, Yangtze, and Prometheus. Owens’ public boards included Daimler Chrysler AG, BAT, Nortel Networks, Wipro, and Telstra. He is a member of the board of Brookings Institution, Rand Corp. Asia, and has served on the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Carnegie Boards. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Since 2007, Admiral Owens has been very active in significant philanthropy to foster Chinese- American relations including forming and funding continuing dialogues between the most senior retired officers in the US and Chinese militaries and similar dialogues between very senior economists.

 

[flyboyike]

This is the Chairman of the Board: Note Prometheus Partners is a developer of several Taco Bell, Pizza Hut & IHOP Brands (franchises) Maybe they'll serve Taco's and French Toast.

Mmmmm....French Toast.

 

[B190Captain]

I wonder what happened with Airbus. They originally planned on the A320.

 

[johnsonrod]

Here's the first 800 in old Eastern paint scheme:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Eastern-Air-Lines/Boeing-737-8AL/2534378/L/

Looks fantastic! I remember taking the old Eastern 757s (with "757" on the tail) transcon as a kid. Here's some additional info about the new Eastern:

http://www.airlinereporter.com/2014/07/catching-up-with-the-new-eastern-air-lines/

I wish them luck!

 

[difete]

Has anyone here jump there so far? any more info in their compensation package? QOL? or even an idea of what it will be like?

 

[bafanguy]

Has anyone here jump there so far? any more info in their compensation package? QOL? or even an idea of what it will be like?

Considering the scope of their announced plans, there are remarkably few details coming out revealing the state of those plans.

If anyone who's interviewed for a pilot slot (or had contact relating to one) has commented publicly, I've missed it.

 

[bigboeings]

They start their first class on Jan. 2.