Former World Wings DFW Chapter

Fabulous DFW gathering at the home of Patricia Smith last week! We celebrated the upcoming marriage of our dear Pan Am friend, Barbara Shropshire.

Pan American World Airways, one of the most iconic airlines in aviation history, is officially making a comeback. After ceasing operations in 1991, the legendary American carrier has been gone for more than three decades. Now it is moving again. Here is the full story.

🔹 It started with new ownership in 2024. A group led by Steven Craig of Craig Realty Group, alongside CEO Craig Carter, acquired the rights to the Pan Am brand. Their goal is to bring the airline back as a real, flying airline.

🔹 The brand is already back in the sky, but only for the rich. Since June 2025, the new Pan Am has been operating private luxury charter flights. The latest one, called Tracing the Transpacific, departed San Francisco on April 11, 2026. Tickets cost $94,495 per person.

🔹 The big news: Pan Am has filed for full FAA certification. On October 9, 2025, Pan Am formally began the FAA Part 121 certification process. This is the same certification that American, Delta, and United hold. It allows an airline to fly scheduled commercial service.

🔹 Will normal people be able to book Pan Am flights? Eventually, yes. But it is not happening yet. Pan Am has not announced any routes or launch dates. For now, the only way to fly Pan Am is the luxury charter trips. Avi8 Air Capital, the company leading the effort, hopes to start scheduled service sometime in 2026.

🔹 Will it have the same logo and livery? Yes. The classic blue and white Pan Am livery, the famous globe logo, and the iconic crew uniforms are already being used. The new ownership is fully leaning into the brand's heritage.

🔹 The plan: Miami, Airbus, and growth. The new Pan Am will be headquartered in Miami. The fleet will be made up of Airbus aircraft, starting with 4 and growing to 16 over the first 4 years.

🔹 The bigger picture. This is not the first time someone has tried to bring Pan Am back. Several previous attempts in 1996, 1998, 2004, and 2011 all failed. The new ownership group says this time is different.

This sounds like fun for 2027!

Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage Two travel icons unite for an unforgettable journey: The 28-Day Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage. This is more than a cruise — it’s a milestone in travel history. Join us for a one-of-a-kind voyage where aviation history meets maritime elegance, where every mile tells a story, and exper...

This month’s Pan Am 103 Archives tribute honors Elke Etha Kuehne. A flight attendant on Pan Am 103, Elke had joined the airline in 1970 and been based in Miami, Washington, D.C. and New York before transferring to their London base in 1976. Prior to working for Pan Am, Elke studied languages in London and Paris, took her interpreter exams, and worked as a foreign correspondent in France. She is remembered as someone with a happy and joyful nature who was always willing to help, which earned her both recognition and friendship among her colleagues. We remember Elke, and all the victims.

R.I.P. Director Mueller.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of former FBI Director Robert Mueller. For decades, he was a staunch supporter of the Pan Am 103 families and our pursuit of the truth. Director Mueller never wavered on his commitment to bring those responsible for the bombing of Pan Am 103 to justice. During his tenure at the FBI, he also revamped and expanded his agency’s victims support services, recognizing the need for continued emotional support for families. Director Mueller spoke at Arlington National Cemetery on December 21, 2008 to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Bombing of Pan Am 103. We would like to share some of his words in his memory today:

"For those of us in the FBI, our work is not merely finding and prosecuting those who would do us harm. It is making sure that other families will not suffer as you have. To ensure they will never have to endure such long days of darkness.

Yet out of the darkness of this day comes a ray of light. The light of unity, of friendship, and of comfort from those who once were strangers and who are now bonded together by a terrible moment in time.

The light of shared memories that bring smiles instead of sadness. And the light of hope for better days to come."

We will always be grateful for Director Mueller’s tireless work and will remember him as a man of integrity and resolve.

Singer, actor Harry Belafonte Jr. (left) shakes hands with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at Kennedy International Airport before he and his family board a Pan American jet bound for Conakry, Guinea on Aug. 14, 1964.

Belafonte was invited to Conakry by Guinea's president, Sekou Toure, to dedicate a theater and cultural center.

1970' PAN AM Makes the going great!! Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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This evening’s featured commercial break comes courtesy of Pan Am. Mr. Henry Crane, resident critic and Head of Media had this to say about the commercial: “Pan Am delivers a commercial steeped in heritage and aspiration. The opening line establishes the theme with clarity: in 1939 Pan Am conquered an ocean. Historic images of the Boeing 314 place the viewer at the dawn of transatlantic passenger service. The airline invokes its own legacy not as nostalgia for its own sake, but as a foundation for what comes next. The narrative shifts to the present with a modern Boeing 747 rising into frame, accompanied by the promise of more destinations than ever before. Pan Am underscores that it now serves more European cities than any other United States carrier. The message is simple. The airline that first crossed the ocean now connects it more completely than anyone else. A gentleman seated in first class adds a personal touch to the campaign. Wearing a cowboy hat and addressing the viewer directly, he remarks that with an experience like Pan Am’s, why fly with anyone else. He then reclines with a quiet confidence and tips his hat, a gesture that encapsulates both ease and satisfaction. The closing text appears over a 747 in flight with the enduring line, “You can’t beat the experience.” From a marketing perspective, this commercial succeeds through heritage framing. It positions Pan Am’s historic achievements as proof of its present-day authority. Heritage becomes a strategic asset, allowing the brand to communicate reliability, scale, and continuity in a single narrative arc. The balance of past and present creates a compelling invitation for travelers who value both prestige and performance.” Mr. Crane’s Ad Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ of 5 We now return to this evening’s scheduled programming.