Eastern Airlines: The Rise and Fall of "The Wings of Man"

Authors

Benjamin H. Troemel Jr., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
James T. Schultz, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityFollow
Marian C. Schultz, University of West Florida

Submitting Campus

Worldwide

Department

Business Administration

Document Type

Article

Publication/Presentation Date

1994

Abstract/Description

This paper examines the rise and fall of Eastern Airlines from 1928 to 1991. lt outlines the carrier's development under a succession of leaders and discusses the major events of each leader's reign. From a small contract mail carrier known as Pitcairn Aviation, Eastern grew to become one of the largest airlines in the free world. But after 26 years of growth and prosperity under the leadership of Eddie Rickenbacker, the airline began to stumble in the early 1960s. Frank Lorenzo took the reins in 1986 and began selling the carrier's assets while attempting to destroy the unions. After a massive employee strike in 1989 and a bout with bankruptcy, Eastern stopped flying in January 1991.

Publication Title

The Rise and Fall of "The Wings of Man"

Publisher

Central Michigan University

Scholarly Commons Citation

Troemel, B. H., Schultz, J. T., & Schultz, M. C. (1994). Eastern Airlines: The Rise and Fall of "The Wings of Man". The Rise and Fall of "The Wings of Man", 12(N/A). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/ publication/57