Floyd D. Hall


Floyd D. Hall was an American businessman and pilot who served as chief executive of Eastern Airlines from 1963 to 1975.
Hall was born in Lamar, Colorado, the son of a hotel owner. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1938, served in the United States Army Air Corps for two years, then joined Trans World Airlines as a first officer. Upon the outbreak of World War II, he returned to the Army Air Corps, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1946, he returned to Trans World Airlines, where he worked as a pilot for ten years, then in management.
In 1963, Hall was hired by Eastern Airlines as president and chief executive. In 1967, he became chairman of EAL while remaining chief executive. Under his leadership, Eastern improved the quality and variety of its meals, introduced free drinks in first class, greatly improved on-time ratings, and undertook an aggressive advertising campaigns. However, the airline continued to struggle, posting a $20.7 million loss in Hall's last year as chief executive. He was succeeded as CEO by Frank Borman on December 16, 1975. He resigned as chairman the following year.
He died in Woodstock, Vermont on April 26, 2012.