Eastman Chemical Company lands in Kingsport after annual meeting announcements

Eastman Chemical Company's Gulfstream G450, tail number N494EC, departed Witham Field in Stuart, Florida, on May 11, 2026, at 6:43 p.m. EDT, touching down at Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Kingsport, Tennessee, less than two hours later. The short hop covered 475 knots at times, peaking at over 41,000 feet, a routine jaunt for the specialty materials giant's executive transport.

The timing aligns with fresh corporate housekeeping at headquarters. Just days earlier, on May 7, the company held its virtual annual meeting of stockholders, where votes elected directors including CEO Mark J. Costa and approved the 2026 Omnibus Stock Compensation Plan, per the firm's press release issued May 11. The board also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.84 per share that week, signaling steady governance amid market fluctuations.

Kingsport remains Eastman Chemical Company's nerve center, a legacy from its Kodak roots, with the jet often shuttling to hubs like Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare, London Heathrow, and Houston Intercontinental for global dealings. This return from Florida—near CEO Costa's Palm Beach residence—suggests a post-meeting recalibration, wryly underscoring how even virtual events pull executives home to the Holston River valley.