Pan Am, The Forgotten Airline that Changed The World

Image of a Pan Am Boeing 707 parked at their "World Port" Terminal in JFK. Image by Jon Proctor.

For those who have a passion for aviation, they would know Pan Am, the airline who pioneered the skies over 50 years ago. The airline started its operations in 1927 and closed its doors in 1991. The airline was known for its glamor and was considered as the unofficial flag carrier of the United States.

It was the first to fly a Boeing passenger jet, the Boeing 707. They ordered 20 of the jets, which was a risky move at the time as Boeing was not really known to make passenger planes, let alone jets. That aircraft would later on bring the world closer due to the reduction of time required to travel. In fact, the Boeing 707 is considered to be faster than most modern jets.

Pan Am’s peak

Image of a Pan Am meal service from the 1950s. Image from everythingPanAm.com

The airline’s peak was arguably in the 1950s to the mid 1970s. That’s when they introduced a number of luxurious amenities to their passengers. One of the most notable amenities is a helicopter ride from downtown Manhattan to Idlewild Airport, now known as JFK Airport.

They were known for their meals, which were supplied by Maxim’s of Paris, a restaurant that is still in operation to this day.

Additionally, they were the first customers for the Boeing 747, a jet that revolutionized air-travel, lowering down fares for every man. A vision that Juan Trippe, the founder of Pan Am had.

Pan Am’s decline and eventual closure

Image of a Pan Am Boeing 747-121, Image from everythingPanAm.com

One of the first hits to the airline was the oil crisis of 1973. These Boeing 747s that they were famous for required a lot of fuel, and when the crisis happened, air tickets skyrocketed which led to their humongous 747s to fly practically empty.

The Airline Deregulation Act in the United States crippled them as other airlines were allowed to compete with them internationally. Furthermore, the relaxed security the airline had led to a number of terrorist attacks, namely Pan Am Flight 103, which was speculated to be the main cause of the airline’s demise.

Now, the major airlines we have today may have the same fate as Pan Am, or they may strive to be better in the upcoming decades. But, the real pioneer for the modern air travel we’re taking advantage of today was Pan Am.