Eastern Airlines plans fleet expansion to 18 aircraft

Eastern Airlines, which currently operates 10 aircraft, requests US DOT approval to increase its total fleet to 18 aircraft and to use eight aircraft for scheduled operations. Specifically, Eastern has purchased two B777-200ER aircraft and intends to enter these two aircraft into commercial service during 2Q 2021 once FAA certification is approved.

In addition, Eastern will be leasing two B777-200 freighters to operate ACMI charters. Eastern expects the certification process for the B777s to be completed on or before 01 April 2021.

The expected increase in the demand for Eastern’s services under the DOD contract, the ability to charter the B777 freighters on an ACMI contract and the addition of new scheduled service routes described below will require the 18 aircraft Eastern is requesting.

Summary of Eastern’s current operations and operating plans for the next 12 months:

The baseline scheduled service routes include:

1. New York, NY (JFK) – Georgetown, Guyana (GEO);
2. New York, NY (JFK) – Anchorage, AK (ANC);
3. Miami, FL (MIA) – Georgetown, Guyana (GEO);
4. Miami, FL– Toronto, CA (YYZ) via GEO);
5. New York, NY (JFK) – Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE); 6. Miami, FL (MIA) – Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE);
6. Miami, FL (MIA) – Asuncion, Paraguay (ASU).

The seven incremental schedule routes (pending foreign government approvals as required) for the pro forma twelve-month period includes:

1. New York, NY (JFK) – Quito, Ecuador (UIO);
2. Miami, FL (MIA) – Quito, Ecuador (UIO);
3. Miami, FL (MIA) – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ);
4. Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE);
5. Boston, MA (BOS) – Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF);
6. Miami, FL (MIA) – Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF);
7. New York, NY (JFK) – Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF);

Eastern already operates charter and scheduled service from JFK, BOS and MIA and has adequate personnel and infrastructure to support these additional routes as well as the expected DOD and ACMI charter flying.