Eastern Air Lines’ decision to move its general headquarters to Pan Am’s NW 36th Street Airport in August of 1935 was greeted with great excitement by the city. The reason for the move? Miami’s growth as the nation’s hub of inter-American travel and the quality of life and working conditions that Miami could offer Eastern employees. For its move, Eastern leased most of Pan Am’s NW 36th Street Airport terminal building and two hangars on the east side of the terminal. Prior to the move, Eastern had been based primarily in Atlanta and Newark. For Miami, Eastern’s presence meant that the city had become an even greater hub of aviation, connecting points across the Americas. The Miami News ran a special section to mark the event which included a welcome ceremony at the 36th Street Airport attended by thousands. Eastern and Pan Am at this time worked closely together to coordinate the schedules of the two airlines, with Eastern passengers able to buy Pan Am connections at Eastern ticket counters and vice versa.

Above left: Cover page of Miami Daily News special section, Sunday, August 25, 1935
Below: Post Card depicting aerial view of EAL aircraft parked at NW 36th Street Airport, circa 1937.