I'll be the first to admit I know next to nothing of Eastern and their history... and who currently owns the brand. Will we see the rebirth of Eastern in the US - using C919s??
edit to add: flightglobal tweeting Eastern's MOU involves cooperation on development and Eastern will "formally consider the C919 for its future fleet".
HermansCVR580 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 494 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 852 times:
WOW!!! Very interesting to say the least.
The right decision at the wrong time, is still a wrong decision. "Hal Carr"
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 5, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 854 times:
Pretty heartless of the Chinese to put the EA livery on a C919 model. Talk about opening up the wounds again. Not cool.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
unitedchicago From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 90 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 853 times:
ever think they did it so it would be passed around and discussed in social forums such as this one...and thereby generating a lot of earned media?
cargolex From United States of America, joined Apr 2010, 1160 posts, RR: 9 Reply 7, posted (6 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 856 times:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 5): Pretty heartless of the Chinese to put the EA livery on a C919 model. Talk about opening up the wounds again. Not cool.
Since China had absolutely nothing to do with the shutdown of Eastern, I'm a little unclear as to why it's "heartless" or "not cool." I don't think anyone in China would really know or care about Eastern unless you were talking about China Eastern, so somebody is obviously either ordering planes or giving them enough of a solid indication that they will to spend the money to make a 1:50 scale model for display at a major show.
Eastern's trademarks and brand are owned by a major Aviation finance company here in the United States.
Reuters says:
Quote: A signing ceremony due later on Tuesday could also highlight a provisional order from investors seeking to revive U.S. carrier Eastern Air Lines, one of the world's most famous aviation names which went bankrupt in 1991, the sources said.
I used to fly Eastern when I was young, and I have alot of good memories of and associations with Eastern. Personally, and it's just my opinion, I think it's unlikely we'll see that livery in the air again.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52 Reply 9, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 851 times:
I am wondering if they got EA mixed up with the British regional carrier T3 (Eastern Airways). It would make sense for them to order a regional jet like the C-919.
Vasu From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 3761 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 852 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 9): I am wondering if they got EA mixed up with the British regional carrier T3 (Eastern Airways). It would make sense for them to order a regional jet like the C-919.
Now what's interesting is that Aviation Capital Partners Group supposedly owns Sky King, a charter airline (which filed for bankruptcy back in September, citing the demise of Direct Air, who supposedly owed them $1 million). Now when the plans for a new EAL came to light, they said that would likely buy an existing airline and rename it. It appears that Sky King could be that airline.
As for them getting C919s, that's an interesting and risky proposition indeed. I guess COMAC is hoping that much like with Airbus and the A300 at the original Eastern, this new Eastern will be the entry point for their planes in the US.
To be honest, this new Eastern may be making a mistake with this order, especially with the number of 737NGs and A320 family a/c that will start hitting the market in a few years as 737 MAX and A320neo a/c are delivered to the airlines. Then again, COMAC plans on having the C919 in service in 2016, which is a year after Airbus plans to start delivering the first A320neo family a/c and a year prior to the planned first delivery of the 737 MAX. However, some are skeptical of COMAC's 2016 EIS date on the C919 and think it may be as late as 2020 (Not surprising considering COMAC's ARJ21 is still not in service and they are planning on starting deliveries late next year.).
Larshjort From Denmark, joined Dec 2007, 1216 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 850 times:
I am looking forward to seeing another manufacturer of large jets, but I am split on the subject of reviving the Eastern brand. I would love to see aircraft painted in the colourscheme, but knowing the history of the brand I hope they would choose another one.
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 9): I am wondering if they got EA mixed up with the British regional carrier T3 (Eastern Airways). It would make sense for them to order a regional jet like the C-919.
You mean the Eastern Airways whose current largest aircraft is the 50 seat Saab 2000? Is going to order a 170 seat jet?
KC135Hydraulics From United States of America, joined Nov 2012, 165 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 850 times:
What is the draw to this C919? From what I've read about it, the specifications/efficiency of the model is decidedly sub-par when compared to the Boeing and Airbus offerings. What's the draw to this plane? Is it extremely cheap? What's the break-point for cheap plane vs. higher operating and maintenance costs? And if the plane is built to same standards as most low-priced products coming from China... well, let's just say I won't be flying Eastern Airlines if and when it emerges!
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 16, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 850 times:
Quoting cargolex (Reply 7): Since China had absolutely nothing to do with the shutdown of Eastern, I'm a little unclear as to why it's "heartless" or "not cool." I don't think anyone in China would really know or care about Eastern
That clearly is the EA livery. I doubt China Eastern's livery is like that! I also said this as well as to why I said what I said in my original post:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 5): Talk about opening up the wounds again
The wounds of what happened to this airline is still fresh. There are still EA employees out there are bitter about what happened, and they have the right to be.
That's just how I see it.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
AirbusA6 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 1906 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 850 times:
I doubt China will be exporting much for the next few years (apart from a few local sales to SE Asia) as they'll be concentrating on producing for the domestic market, which is a much better way or ironing out the bugs without the outside world watching! It's a massive market anyway.
it's the bus to stansted (now renamed national express a4 to ruin my username)
columba From Germany, joined Dec 2004, 6798 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 850 times:
No it is obvious that Comac is copying Airbus. Airbus first US customer was Eastern and since Eastern is no more, they found somebody that will resurrect the brand for them
It will forever be a McDonnell Douglas MD 80 , Boeing MD 80 sounds so wrong
Tangowhisky From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 862 posts, RR: 8 Reply 19, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 848 times:
Let's get to the heart of the matter.
The C919 will be dead on arrival outside its region. In the same way the ARJ21 is overweight and antiquated (hashed up copy of an MD-90), the same is true with the C919. By the time it is certified, it will be a poor competitor the NEO and MAX. These two Chinese programs are a learning exercise.
F9animal From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4733 posts, RR: 30 Reply 20, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 848 times:
Hey, I am all for seeing any airline try to get off the ground. Call me greedy, but I would give anything to see a few Eastern, Pan Am, Braniff, and other lost airlines flying into my local airport any day! Even if it does not survive, it would be so cool to see the livery back on our tarmacs again!
cf6ppe From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 306 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 850 times:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 16): The wounds of what happened to this airline is still fresh. There are still EA employees out there are bitter about what happened, and they have the right to be.
That's just how I see it.
I agree with the above quoted .... even after 20+ years
Also, I don't think either the C919 and/or a redone Eastern Airlines will ever happen.
mah4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31117 posts, RR: 74 Reply 23, posted (6 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 849 times:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 5):
Pretty heartless of the Chinese to put the EA livery on a C919 model. Talk about opening up the wounds again. Not cool.
The Eastern trade name is owned by a group of Miami investors who gave them permission to use it. The group has been slowly working on a relaunch plan for the airline, essentially taking the Virgin America service model and applying it to a Miami-based airline with the Eastern name. I doubt it'll ever launch, but they've been taking serious steps to make it happen, and this - a possible C-919 order - is clearly the biggest yet.
HullCitySpotter From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2012, 49 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 842 times:
Quoting Larshjort (Reply 14): You mean the Eastern Airways whose current largest aircraft is the 50 seat Saab 2000? Is going to order a 170 seat jet?
When taking over HUY a couple of months ago they did mention wanting to put in place holiday flights to the Balaerics (PMI, Mahon and IBZ), Spain, and the Canaries; this would have been done via TCX but they're going down the drain and FR's Humberside experiment didn't go too well, so why not? They've obviously got a bit of dosh to buy HUY, so I can see them expanding.
25 timboflier215: Even more interesting, according to the Reuters article linked below, BA have expressed an interest! The Wikipedia page for the C919 lists BA as havin
26 LN-KGL: C919 isn't exactly a regional jet with 168-190 seats on board.
27 Vasu: Yes, I saw that too! I wonder if BA are actually serious or whether they are just using it as a bargaining chip with other manufacturers... very inte
28 timboflier215: I'd be extremely surprised to see BA order the C919, and I think Bombardier, Boeing and Airbus wouldn't see a BA order as a possibility. Yes, strange
29 freakyrat: Quotinh mah4546 "The Eastern trade name is owned by a group of Miami investors who gave them permission to use it. The group has been slowly working o
30 N766UA: So, did they purposely rip off the 787's windows?
31 zippyjet: It's hard to see but I'd say more like the Embraer 170 series larger windows . It would be cool to see the rebirth of Eastern but, I would not want i
32 N766UA: http://i.cdn.cnngo.com/sites/default...rge/2010/11/17/C919_main_image.jpg That side window is shaped exactly like the 787's.
33 lollomz: Someone told me that chinese people are famous for the copies......
34 KC135Hydraulics: Sometimes when I'm working on hydraulic tubing and can't quite figure out how it should be routed, I look at the "Chinese blueprint" which is basicall
35 N766UA: Yeah, I guess I'm sort of stating the obvious at this point, huh?
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The wounds of what happened to this airline is still fresh. There are still EA employees out there are bitter about what happened, and they have the right to be.
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