Aircraft Had Formerly Flown For Kenya Airways

The first Boeing 737-800 in the new Eastern Airlines livery has arrived at Miami (FL) International Airport. The plane received the traditional water cannon salute Friday afternoon at the south Florida airport.

USA Today relays a report from Airways News that the plane last saw service with Kenya Airways. Eastern has orders for 10 new 737-800s on Boeing's order books, with options for an additional 10 airplanes.

The new carrier that it trying to revive the legacy brand will start as a charter operation, expanding into regularly scheduled service at a later date. There is no firm timeline for either of those to occur, however. Eastern had hoped to be flying this month, but those first charter flights are now expected to take place in March, 2015.

Eastern flew from 1927 to 1991. The return of the name to Miami has been welcomed by city officials. Airways reports that Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said "I never thought it would be back, and we are pleased" at Eastern's event unveiling its new plane on Friday.

(Image from YouTube video)

FMI: http://easternairlines.aero