Eastern Airlines Acquires Hillwood Airways: Expanding Operations and Entering Luxury Charter Market
Eastern Air Holdings, parent company of Eastern Airlines, announced its intention to acquire Hillwood Airways, an airline based in Fort Worth, Texas. Eastern Airlines, a major U.S. government contractor, operates Boeing 767s and Boeing 777s, providing both scheduled and non-scheduled passenger services. The merger will allow Eastern Airlines to expand its operations and enter the luxury charter flight segment.
Hillwood Airways has provided cargo, passenger, and luxury air charter services since obtaining its Part 121 Air Carrier Certificate in 2017. The company increased its narrow-body aircraft fleet to include three additional Boeing 737-700 series aircraft in late 2019, to accommodate the growing demand for its services.
Brian Randow, President and COO of Eastern Airlines, will assume the role of President for both companies, while Steve Kasteler will join Hillwood as Executive Vice President of Commercial Sales for both airlines. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the coming months.
Eastern Airlines had previously announced regular flights from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to New York, Miami, and Boston. However, after selling tickets, the flights never materialized, and there are no updates on the company’s plans for Brazil.
In addition to these operations, the company briefly flew to Asunción (Paraguay), Montevideo (Uruguay), and Guayaquil (Ecuador), but after repeated cancellations and suspensions, it eventually abandoned these routes.
The acquisition of Hillwood Airways will bring four Boeing 737-700s to Eastern’s fleet, including a unique BBJ Combi version that can carry cargo through a large door on the main deck and be configured with VIP seating for just 32 passengers in great comfort.
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