Eastern Air Express

Last updated

Eastern Air Express
Eastern Airlines logo new.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
-BBQEASTERN EXPRESS
Founded2013 (as ATX Air Services)
Commenced operationsJuly 2017
(as Hillwood Airways)
November 13, 2023
(as Eastern Air Express)
AOC # 4TXA995N
Operating bases Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport
Fleet size33
Parent company Eastern Air Holdings Inc. [1]
Headquarters Fort Worth, Texas
Key people
  • Charles E. Bart (CEO)
  • Michael L. Tate (CFO) [2]
Website iflyea.com

Eastern Air Express (formerly Hillwood Airways and ATX Air Services) [3] [4] is an American charter airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and based at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. It was formerly a subsidiary of The Perot Group, which is controlled by Ross Perot, Jr.

Contents

History

Former Hillwood Airways logo Hillwood Airways logo.svg
Former Hillwood Airways logo

The airline was initially founded in 2013 as ATX Air Services and operated under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 125 certificate, limiting the airline to only flying under long-term agreements with a few clients. [3]

ATX Air Services rebranded as Hillwood Airways in 2016, [4] received its FAA Part 121 Air Carrier Certification on July 24, 2017, and subsequently started charter operations. [5]

The airline commenced operations with a single Boeing 737-700C BBJ and currently offers it for charter in four configurations: 36 first-class seats with two conference tables, 60 first-class seats, 90 premium economy seats or as a full freighter. It is one of only a few Boeing 737 BBJs fitted with a full-size main-deck cargo door. [6]

Between 2019 and 2021 the airline took delivery of three regular Boeing 737-700s that were originally delivered to Airtran Airways and ConocoPhillips Alaska. [7] The three regulars 737-700s are available for charter in all-passenger configurations ranging from 60 first class to 100 premium economy seats. [6]

One of the airline's Boeing 737-700s was involved in the 2021 Kabul airlift. [8]

In May 2023, Eastern Air Holdings, owner of Eastern Airlines, announced its plans to acquire Hillwood Airways. [9] The airline was officially purchased on August 15, 2023, and continues to operate under its existing brand. [1] The company announced on November 13, 2023 its rebrand as Eastern Air Express. [10]

Fleet

Hillwood Airways 737-700C/BBJ at Tallinn Airport, Estonia in 2019. Hillwood Airways, N737AT, Boeing 737-7HJ(BBJ) (49601345618).jpg
Hillwood Airways 737-700C/BBJ at Tallinn Airport, Estonia in 2019.

The Eastern Air Express fleet includes the following aircraft (as of April 2024): [6] [11]

Eastern Air Express fleet
AircraftIn
service
OrdersPassengersNotes
FYTotal
Boeing 737-300 8148148
Boeing 737-300BDSF 1Cargo
Boeing 737-400 1812138150
Boeing 737-700C/BBJ 1VIPCan be configured for both cargo-only and passenger operations.
Boeing 737-700 3VIPPassenger seat count varies depending on the specific aircraft and its configuration.
Boeing 737-800 2189189
Total33

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "US's Eastern Air Holdings acquires Hillwood Airways". Ch-aviation.com. August 24, 2023.
  2. "About Us". Hillwood Airways. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Shine, Conor (August 15, 2017). "See Dallas-Fort Worth's new high-end charter airline from billionaire Ross Perot Jr". The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "ATX Air Services rebrands as Hillwood Airways" . ch-aviation. August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  5. "HILLWOOD Airways Earns Coveted Part 121 Air Carrier Certification". www.businesswire.com. July 24, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 "Fleet". Hillwood Airways. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  7. "Hillwood Airways Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  8. "HWA228 Hillwood Airways Flight Tracking and History 18-Aug-2021". FlightAware . Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  9. "Eastern Airlines Acquires Hillwood Airways: Expanding Operations and Entering Luxury Charter Market". Aviacionline.com. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  10. "US's Hillwood Airways to rebrand as Eastern Air Express\access-date=December 22, 2023".
  11. "Eastern Air Express Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved May 6, 2024.