01 January 2013

757 Celebrates 30th Anniversary

30 years ago, today, the first Boeing 757-200 entered service with Eastern Airlines. N501EA (c/n 22191, l/n 2) took to the skies from ATL to TPA. Of the 1,050 757s built, more than 1,030 currently remain in service.

Here in Hawai‘i, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, US Airways, and Allegiant Airlines are the main 757 operators. WestJet Airlines has a seasonal wet-lease with Thomas Cook Airlines for its Alberta flights. In the 30 years of service, other airlines such as Canada 3000, Royal Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Omni Air International, Continental Airlines, America West Airlines, ATA Airlines, and Harmony Airways were among the regulars at HNL.

After Eastern's shutdown in January 1991, 22191 was delivered to NASA in December 1994, and served as a test aircraft. In January 2009, it was acquired by Starflite International Corporation, and registered as N144DC.

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