Ella Walter
Pan American World Airways, more commonly known as Pan Am, was an airline that was the largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States for much of the 20th century. It ceased operations on December 4, 1991, but its impact on international travel and popular culture remains significant. With its blue globe logo, white pilot caps, and the word Clipper in its aircraft names and operations, Pan Am has become a cultural icon. The airline's history, including its pioneering flights, innovations, and challenges, has sparked ongoing curiosity about its aircraft's current status.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1927 |
| Year ceased operations | 1991 |
| First passenger flight | October 21, 1936 |
| First airline to fly worldwide | Yes |
| First airline to introduce the Boeing 747SP | Yes |
| Number of Boeing 747s received | 65 |
| Number of Boeing 747-100s received | 44 |
| Number of Boeing 747-200s received | 10 |
| Number of Boeing 747SPs received | 11 |
| Fate of Boeing 747s | Sold to United Airlines in 1986 |
| Fate of other aircraft | Some still flying for FedEx and Aero Union of Mexico |
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What You'll Learn
The end of Pan Am
Pan American World Airways, or Pan Am as it was commonly known, was the largest international airline in the US for much of the 20th century. It was the first airline to fly worldwide, pioneering innovations such as jumbo jets, and was the first to introduce the Boeing 747. It was an intimate part of world history, from flying the Beatles to America in 1964 to carrying the press through numerous American presidential campaigns.
However, beginning in the mid-1970s, Pan Am began facing a series of challenges. The company invested half a billion dollars in a large fleet of Boeing 747 jetliners, but this decision backfired when, in October 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an oil embargo against nations, including the US, that were supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War. By the end of the embargo in March 1974, the price of oil had risen by more than 400%. This hit Pan Am harder than other airlines because of its exclusively long-haul flights, which required more fuel.
At the same time, Pan Am faced increasing competition from other airlines as the Civil Aeronautics Board promoted competition between major US carriers on key domestic and international routes. The company also suffered from a series of terrorist attacks and hijackings, including the Lockerbie bombing in 1988, which contributed to its demise.
In 1991, Pan Am was under bankruptcy protection and closed its doors for good in December of that year. The final blow came when Delta CEO Ron Allen and other senior executives decided not to go ahead with the final $25 million payment Pan Am was scheduled to receive. As a result, Pan Am ceased operations, and 7,500 employees lost their jobs. The loss of Pan Am was felt by many as signifying the end of the golden age of air travel.
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Pan Am's legacy
Pan American World Airways, or Pan Am, as it was more commonly known, was the first international airline founded in the United States. From its founding in 1927, it grew to serve most major Latin American cities by the early 1930s and would go on to become the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States for much of the 20th century.
Pan Am was the first airline to fly worldwide and pioneered innovations such as jumbo jets and computerized reservation systems. It was also the first airline to introduce the Boeing 747SP (Special Performance) in 1976, allowing it to fly the longest non-stop flights in the world for many years. The airline set two round-the-world records during the mid-1970s, including the first commercial plane flight to circumnavigate the world in 1942.
However, Pan Am faced numerous challenges, including the deregulation of the US airline industry in the late 1970s, which allowed competitors to fly to the same international destinations. Additionally, the airline became a target of terrorist attacks and faced difficulties filling its large aircraft due to increasing global tensions and competition.
Despite these setbacks, Pan Am's impact on international travel and its place in the public imagination remain enduring. Even after its dissolution in 1991, some of its aircraft continued to fly for other airlines, and its legacy as a trailblazing airline that changed the course of international travel is undeniable.
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Hijackings and attacks
Pan American World Airways, or Pan Am, faced a host of problems due to the deregulation of the airline industry, which exposed it to intense competition. The world was also in the grip of terrorism risks, and aircraft became a prime target. Pan Am’s 747s faced more than their fair share of these problems, including some of the most notorious incidents in history.
Clipper Fortune, 1970
A 747 registered N752PA and named Clipper Fortune, operating Pan Am flight 93, was en route from Amsterdam to New York in September 1970 when it was hijacked. The flight was diverted to Beirut, where more gang members boarded, and then the plane was flown to Jordan's Dawson's Field, where it was destroyed with explosives. This was the first hull loss of a Boeing 747.
Pan Am Flight 841, 1972
In 1972, another Pan Am 747 was hijacked en route from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City (then Saigon). However, the hijacker was overpowered and killed on landing, and the plane and passengers were safe.
N754PA, 1982
Another 747, registered N754PA, was also the subject of a terrorist attack. In 1982, while operating a service between Tokyo and Honolulu as flight 830, a bomb exploded, killing one person, injuring 16, and damaging the ceiling and overhead racks.
Pan Am Flight 73, 1986
On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73, a Boeing 747, was hijacked at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, by four armed Palestinian terrorists of the Abu Nidal Organization. The flight was en route from Mumbai, India, to New York City, United States, with scheduled stops in Karachi and Frankfurt, West Germany. The hijackers demanded a pilot to fly them to Cyprus to free “friends” in prison there. Twenty-one or twenty-two hostages were killed, and 150 were injured. All four hijackers were apprehended and sentenced to death in Pakistan, but the sentences were later commuted to life in prison.
Clipper Empress of the Seas, 1986
Pan Am’s Clipper Empress of the Seas, registered N656PA, was hijacked in 1986 while on the ground in Karachi, operating flight 73. Twenty people were killed, but the aircraft was not damaged. The plane went on to work for Evergreen International Airlines in 1991 but has now been scrapped.
Clipper New Horizons, 1986
The 747SP flight named Clipper New Horizons was sold to United Airlines in 1986. It flew the Sultan of Brunei for some years and then the Bahrain Royal Flight. It was damaged beyond repair after a hurricane struck the area where it was undergoing maintenance.
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The first Boeing 747s
The Boeing 747 was instrumental in Pan Am's global success in the 1970s and 1980s. The airline was a launch customer for the aircraft type, placing an order for 25 747s in April 1966. The first 747s entered service with Pan Am on January 22, 1970, with the inaugural flight taking place from New York John F. Kennedy to London Heathrow. This flight, operated by the 747 named Clipper Young America, was delayed by several hours due to an engine failure. Despite this setback, the 747 allowed Pan Am to offer spacious interiors with enhanced amenities for both first-class and economy passengers, making air travel more accessible to the middle class.
The introduction of the 747 also enabled Pan Am to set several world records. In the mid-1970s, a 747SP named Clipper Liberty Bell broke the commercial round-the-world record with a time of 46 hours and 50 seconds. In 1977, to commemorate the airline's 50th birthday, a 747SP named Clipper New Horizons operated a round-the-world flight from San Francisco, over the North and South Poles, completing the journey in just over 54 hours. This flight achieved seven world records, including a transpolar route with stops in Cape Town and Auckland.
However, the 747s also faced challenges during their service with Pan Am. The oil crisis of 1973 led to a downturn in commercial air travel, resulting in surplus capacity for the airline. Additionally, rising fuel costs over the following decades made the four-engine 747 less attractive compared to more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft. Despite these difficulties, Pan Am operated a total of 65 747s between 1969 and its closure in 1991, including 44 747-100s, 10 747-200s, and 11 747SPs.
Unfortunately, several of Pan Am's 747s were involved in notable incidents and accidents. The first hull loss of a 747 occurred in September 1970 when a 747 named Clipper Fortune was hijacked en route from Amsterdam to New York and destroyed in Jordan. In March 1977, a 747 named Clipper Victor was destroyed in the Tenerife airport disaster, colliding with a KLM 747 on the ground, resulting in the deaths of 583 people. This accident remains the deadliest in aviation history.
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The world's first airline
The first fixed-wing scheduled airline began on 1 January 1914. The earliest fixed-wing airline in Europe was Aircraft Transport and Travel, formed in 1916 by George Holt Thomas. It operated relief flights between Folkestone and Ghent, Belgium, using a fleet of former military Airco DH.4A biplanes that had been modified to carry two passengers. On 15 July 1919, the company flew a proving flight across the English Channel, and on 25 August 1919, it used DH.16s to pioneer a regular service from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome to Paris's Le Bourget, the first regular international service in the world.
The first German airline to use heavier-than-air aircraft was Deutsche Luft-Reederei, established in 1917 and began operating in February 1919. By 1921, its network included destinations in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Republics. Junkers Luftverkehr, another important German airline, began operations in 1921 as a division of the aircraft manufacturer Junkers and became a separate company in 1924. It operated joint-venture airlines in Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, founded in 1913, was another early airline that used the Benoist Airboat, an early version of a seaplane. This airline was made possible by Percival E. Fansler, who enlisted the sponsorship of the Benoist Company and served as its airline manager, and chief pilot Tony Jannus, who also set early records for passenger flight time and overwater flight. Jannus was also the first to hold a federal airline license.
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Frequently asked questions
Pan American World Airways, also known as Pan Am, ceased operations on December 4, 1991. While there may no longer be any Pan Am planes in operation, some of their old aircraft are still around. For example, one of their Boeing 747SPs ended up with NASA, although it no longer flies.
Pan Am's Boeing 747s were sold to United Airlines in what looked to be a bulk deal in 1986. One of these planes, the N540PA, flew the Sultan of Brunei and was then used by the Bahrain Royal Flight. It later became a luxury jet for the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, but was damaged beyond repair by a hurricane.
Pan Am's planes were involved in several notable incidents, including hijackings and terrorist attacks. In 1970, a 747 en route from Amsterdam to New York was hijacked and diverted to Beirut, and then to Jordan, where it was destroyed with explosives. In 1977, a Pan Am plane was involved in the deadliest accident in aviation history when a KLM 747-200 took off without clearance, colliding with the Pan Am flight and killing a total of 583 people.
