This, I think, is Good News:
Long-defunct airline Pan Am is inching towards revival more than three decades after going out of business.
AVi8 Air Capital and Pan American Global Holdings, which owns the intellectual property rights to the Pan Am brand, have begun the certification process with the FAA. AVi8 announced they have completed a business plan for the brand’s revival efforts.
“Avi8 has assembled a world-class team to lead the certification effort and has received strong initial support from aircraft lessors and key vendors,” the company said on Thursday.
If all goes to plan, the company will be based out of Miami with a fleet of Airbus aircrafts*.
Right off the bat, let me say that I loved Pan Am, both the airline and its philosophy — well, before Juan Trippe chased after the lower-income market and cocked up the brand (as documented here).
I just hope that the New Pan Am doesn’t try to be another Spirit or JetBlue (joint motto: We invented cheap ‘n nasty travel, and we never fail to rub your noses in that ), because that way lies utter, abject failure.
As I said earlier, Pan Am’s road to aviation success and profitability is not through the mass market, but by catering to the affluent traveler, with peerless customer service and spotless aircraft. Like they used to.
Despite Pan Am’s earlier demise, their brand might still have some cachet left over, even now. And if they relaunch and re-brand the airline back to its heritage and strengths (including — gasp! comely flight attendants and not grab-a-granny / tattooed slatterns, some overlap), I can almost guarantee they’ll do well.
Go for it, guys. I for one look forward to your trip [sic] with great anticipation, and I hope that future passengers won’t be able to beat the experience…
And by the way: resist the impulse to change your old logo. It was wonderful then, and will serve you well now.
*Ummm… it’s aircraft not aircrafts — “aircraft” is both singular and plural, like “sheep” or “deer”, but let’s not have that interfere with the good news.
