New York-based Eastern Airlines has acquired an ex-Singapore Airlines 777-200 to augment its fleet of all-widebody, all-Boeing aircraft.
Eastern Airlines currently has a fleet of four aircraft, including:
- 2 Boeing 767-200
- 2 Boeing 767-300
The airline operates scheduled service between New York (JFK) and both Guayaquil (GYE) and Georgetown, Guyana (GEO). It also operates several charter flights. Most recently, it has evacuated many Americans from South America to Miami (and was accused of price gouging).
Eastern also has expansion plans and has even floated service from JFK to Jinan, China (TNA) via Anchorage (ANC). It also announced planned service between San Diego (SAN) and New York (JFK) this June–and even published a schedule–but the flights have yet to begin and it is now June 3, 2020…
- New York to San Diego dep 11:00PM arr 1:50AM+1
- San Diego to New York dep 6:40AM arr 3:10PM
The new 777-200 is currently parked in Victorville, California bearing registration number N771KW. Finalized in Seattle, it was delivered to Singapore Airlines in March 2002 and is now 18 years old. Singapore sold the aircraft to Malaysia-based flyGlobal in 2017 after it sat in Victorville, for two years. Over the last three years, two Saudi airlines, Nesma Airlines and flynas, utilized the aircraft.
In late February, the aircraft was returned to Victorville where it is now being prepared for service with Eastern.
CONCLUSION
Eastern remains a mysterious airline. Will the new Eastern Airlines 777 just cover more charter service or will it be used for more scheduled service? That remains anyone’s guess. It does appear that Singapore’s original business class seat is still on the plane (I reviewed it here, though on a 777-300), which would give this aircraft the best premium seating in the Eastern fleet.
Have you flown Eastern Airlines recently? How did you find it?
> Read More: Mysterious Eastern Airlines Announces New Flight From New York…Again
image: Eastern Airlines
“Finalized in Seattle, it was delivered to Singapore Airlines in March 2020 and is now 18 years old.”
Me thinks your math is way off, there. I believe you meant 2002?
As a former Eastern Airlines employee, it does my heart good to see the Eastern colors on an aircraft
I flew on an ex-SIA 777-200 a few years ago from GRU to SCL operating on behalf of LATAM. It was a terrible experience and that was in J class. It was the old sloped seats, half of which did not work. The aircraft was not well maintained. If this is the same aircraft or a similar one, this is not going to be a pleasant experience if no money is spent to upgrade the interior.