A founding giant of American aviation, ground down by 1978 deregulation, labor war, and corporate raider Frank Lorenzo.
Born
1926 CE
Died
1991 CE
Lived
65 years
Dead for
35 yrs
At its peak
One of the 'Big Four' U.S. airlines; ~$3.9 billion revenue (1986)
Cause of death
Overreach
The Obituary
Eastern Air Lines traced to 1926, when it grew out of Pitcairn Aviation, and became one of America’s “Big Four” carriers, famous for its no-reservation Air Shuttle linking New York, Boston, and Washington. Airline deregulation in 1978 exposed its high costs, and in 1986 the corporate raider Frank Lorenzo took control. His confrontations with unions culminated in a savage 1989 machinists’ strike that crippled operations. Eastern entered bankruptcy and burned through cash trying to survive. On 19 January 1991 it shut down and was liquidated, ending 65 years of flight.
Worth remembering
It was one of the 'Big Four' U.S. airlines and once flew the famous Eastern Air Shuttle between New York, Boston and Washington.
A bitter 1989 machinists' strike, after Frank Lorenzo's takeover, helped drive it into bankruptcy and then liquidation.
Gallery
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 727 at Las Vegas, October 1982Leslie Snelleman · CC BY-SA 4.0Eastern Air Lines Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop airliner in flightPublic domain
Sources
Eastern Air Lines ceased operations in January 1991 and was liquidated, after labor disputes and the takeover by Frank Lorenzo Wikipedia
Frank Lorenzo's Texas Air acquired Eastern in 1986; a 1989 machinists' strike accelerated its collapse Wikipedia
Eastern Air Lines stopped flying on 19 January 1991 after about 60 years, brought down by heavy debt, bitter labour disputes under Frank Lorenzo's Texas Air, and a 1989 machinists' strike. New Georgia Encyclopedia
A graveyard tradition: leave a stone to show you came, and remembered.
Buried nearby — by shared fate or a neighbouring lifespan.
