The eastern corridor that was the most profitable segment of Eastern Airlines? If he would have patterned Tramp airlines after Southwest instead of gold plating stuff and leather seats he might have made a go of it.
“If he would have patterned Tramp airlines after Southwest instead of gold plating stuff and leather seats he might have made a go of it.”
Too much competition, combined with the Gulf War fuel spike, and the collapse in traffic that followed.
The Eastern Shuttle and The USAir Shuttle were competing head-to-head, along with the PanAm Shuttle (Which became the Delta Shuttle).
New York Air (later merged with Continental) was running hourly service from LGA and EWR, along with Kiwi Airlines from EWR. Several other airlines were also in the BOS-NYC-DCA market as well, but not with that scale of service at that time, such as TWA/TransStates.
Trump’s Upscale move was widely praised at the time, as THE way to differentiate the brand.