UK’s Eastern Airways seeks Delta codeshare, namesake objects

Eastern Airways has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for permission to codeshare with Delta Air Lines and add its designator code to wet-lease flights it operates for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and KLM cityhopper. To do so, it asked the DOT for an exemption permitting it to engage in scheduled flights between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands under a codeshare arrangement with Delta or any duly authorised US carrier. The ch-aviation fleets module shows that Eastern Airways operates four ATR72-600s, nine BAe Jetstream 41s, two E170s, and two E190s. It additionally owns one E145 and one E135 (both operating for Bristow Helicopters Nigeria (BHN, Lagos)) as well as three BAe Jetstream 41s which are not in operation. It is looking to bolster its fleet by adding up to two additional E-Jets (E190s or E170s) in the next six months. This additional capacity will be allocated to further support its flights for KLM. However, US carrier Eastern Airlines (2D, Miami International) objected to the British carrier’s use of the word "Eastern". “Use of the trade name ‘Eastern Airways’ [...] may cause confusion to the travelling and shipping public,” the US carrier protested to the DOT. Eastern Airways’ legal name is Air Kilroe Limited.<br/>