EastJet
New low-cost airline · Raleigh-Durham, NC

Low fares, born in the Triangle.

EastJet Virtual is a new low-cost carrier headquartered at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. We're building a simple, affordable airline with a modern Airbus A320 fleet, connecting North Carolina to the places people actually want to go.

Q4 2026 Opening date announcement coming
Read the latest news Why Raleigh-Durham
About EastJet

Experienced leadership. A realistic airline.

EastJet Virtual is led by a team with more than 15 years of virtual airline experience and thousands of logged flight sim hours. We know what makes an airline last, and we aren't trying to reinvent the wheel. We're taking what already works and pushing it as far as it can go: real economics, steady growth and a pilot experience with genuine depth.

Realistic by design

We plan, price and fly like a real low-cost carrier. Every route has to earn its place, every flight is costed, and the schedule changes when the numbers say it should.

Growth we can sustain

We follow a smart, scalable fleet plan. Aircraft, routes and pilot seats are added as demand proves out, so every step forward is one the airline can support.

A deeper pilot career

Real schedules, real operating costs and a career that builds over time. Your flying shapes the airline, from your first Florida turn to the routes that come next.

Headquarters · KRDU

Why Raleigh-Durham is the right home.

The Research Triangle is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, full of universities, tech and life-science employers, and families who moved here and still fly home to visit.

RDU has no hub airline controlling the market, so fares are set by competition. Its costs for airlines are among the lowest of any major East Coast airport. And sitting mid-coast, it puts Florida, the Northeast and the Caribbean within easy reach of a single aircraft.

7.8M
departing passengers in fiscal 2025, an RDU record
~$9
airport cost per passenger, among the lowest on the East Coast
0
hub airlines controlling the market
<2.5 hr
to Florida, Boston and the Northeast

Passenger and cost figures from RDU's published airport finance data.

Newsroom

Press releases

EastJet Virtual Secures Three Airbus A320s on Favorable Lease Terms; First Aircraft Arrives in December

RALEIGH-DURHAM, N.C., October 8, 2026 – EastJet Virtual today announced that it has acquired its launch fleet: three Airbus A320 aircraft formerly operated by Spirit Airlines. The jets were secured under a long-term lease on terms the airline describes as ideal for a growing low-cost carrier, with competitive monthly rates, flexible return conditions and no up-front purchase commitment.

The aircraft became available after Spirit Airlines ceased operations in May 2026. All three will be re-registered and painted in EastJet colors as N301EJ, N302EJ and N303EJ.

EastJet expects to take delivery of its first aircraft, N301EJ, in early December 2026, with N302EJ and N303EJ to follow.

"Picking up three well-maintained A320s on terms like these lets us launch with a modern, fuel-efficient fleet while keeping our costs, and our fares, low," said Shawn Fitts, CEO of EastJet Virtual. "These aircraft are the foundation of everything we're building at RDU."

What's next
EastJet will announce its official opening date later in Q4 2026. The airline is not yet accepting pilot applications; aspiring EastJet pilots should watch this newsroom for the announcement.

About EastJet Virtual
EastJet Virtual is a low-cost virtual airline for flight simulation enthusiasts, headquartered at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Learn more at eastjetvirtual.com.

EastJet Virtual is a flight simulation community and is not affiliated with Spirit Airlines, Airbus or any real-world airline.

Pilots

We're not hiring pilots just yet.

EastJet isn't accepting pilot applications at this time. Stay tuned for our Q4 announcement of our opening date, when applications will open.

ApplicationsClosed
Opening dateAnnounced Q4 2026
FleetAirbus A320
BaseKRDU