Eastern Airlines flies again

Do not get too excited.  In its time Eastern Airlines was one of the great American airlines, if not quite Pan Am.  At one point its routes included London but it went spectacularly bust in 1991. 

The rights to the old Eastern name and logo were purchased in 2011 by the present investors but it is only the thaw in US-Cuba relations that has allowed the new undertaking to get airborne.  The revitalised carrier, technically a charter operator, is based at Miami International, just like its famous predecessor.

Eastern is getting its start by operating charters in partnership with the HavanaAir charter company.  American airlines can fly on routes between the US and Cuba, but they must do so in conjunction with tour companies that are authorised by Washington to sell travel packages to the Castro-run island.

Eastern plans to move into scheduled services and has on order 10 Boeing 737-800s in a two-class layout.     http://easternairlines.aero     www.havanaair.com

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