Pan Am moves closer to resuming passenger air services by starting FAA certification process
October 10, 2025
Since the original incarnation of Pan American World Airways, more commonly referred to as simply ‘Pan Am’, closed its doors and ceased flying in 1991, there have been many attempts to resurrect the brand and resume passenger flights.
Now, a new investment and advisory firm is on the scene and seeking to do just that with a fleet of Airbus aircraft.
Could Pan Am be making a return?
After years of financial struggles, the fallout from the Gulf War, and unable to shake off the spectre of the Flight 103 disaster over Lockerbie in Scotland in 1988, iconic US airline Pan Am filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991 – a process from which it would never re-emerge.
While there have been several attempts to resurrect the brand in the years since, none have survived or prospered in the long run. Now, specialist aviation investment firm Avi8Air Capital (‘Avi8’) has announced that it is making progress in its plan to revive the airline and return it to flying status.
AVi8Air Capital is a specialised aviation merchant bank and strategic consulting firm providing expertise in airline strategy, fleet financing, and operational management.
Working alongside Pan Am Brands, a division of Pan American Global Holdings that controls the intellectual property rights to the name and brand, the partnership has announced that it has just completed a comprehensive business plan for the potential relaunch of Pan Am as a scheduled commercial airline.
The plan to bring back Pan Am is progressing
In June, the partners revealed that they had entered into exploratory talks to explore the potential relaunch of Pan American World Airways as a scheduled commercial airline.
AVi8 said at the time it would work closely with Pan Am Brands, “leveraging its deep industry expertise to assess the feasibility, structure, and financial strategy for the airline’s return to commercial operations.”
Avi8 stated at the time, “Pan Am is more than just a brand. It represents the most iconic name in commercial aviation history.
Our team at AVi8 is honoured to support Pan Am Brands in evaluating the best path forward for a modern, competitive, and customer-focused airline that honours Pan Am’s historic legacy while embracing the future of aviation.”
“We are excited to partner with AVi8 to explore how best to bring the Pan Am brand back to the skies as a scheduled commercial airline,” said Craig Carter, CEO of Pan Am Global Holdings at the time, “With its legacy of innovation, service excellence, and global connectivity, Pan Am remains a cherished name in aviation.”
“Through this collaboration, we aim to assess a sustainable and forward-thinking approach to reintroducing scheduled commercial service under the Pan Am name, one that not only honours its legacy but also makes the Pan Am experience more accessible.”
As part of the strategic evaluation process, AVi8 said it would assist Pan Am Brands in analysing key market dynamics, fleet strategy, operational infrastructure, and financial planning necessary to re-establish Pan Am as a viable commercial carrier.
The certification process is underway for the new Pan Am
Now, four months on, and with the business plan completed, the project to resurrect the airliner seems to be pressing ahead.
As a result of the latest development, Pan Am has formally initiated a certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – a key step toward re-establishing the carrier as a US Part 121 scheduled passenger airline.
Any such process will be subject to the obligatory meeting of all FAA and US Department of Transport approvals, added Avi8.
According to an Avi8 statement issued on 9 October, “Avi8 has assembled a world-class team to lead the certification effort and has received strong initial support from aircraft lessors and key vendors.
“Once certified, Pan Am will be headquartered in Miami and operate a fleet of Airbus aircraft, subject to all FAA and DOT approvals. Further updates on the certification process and other milestones will be shared in the coming months.”
Avi8’s own website boasts a wealth of experience in the field of advising airline startups.
“[The company] has a proven track record of success in airline startups, restructurings, and large-scale aviation investments, and in the last 40 years has launched two US-based regional express airlines, privatised a major international airline, and led the part 121 certifications for the launch of two US part 121 scheduled airlines.”
“It has also led the development of a $2 billion aircraft leasing platform for a major investment bank.”
Previous attempts to revive Pan Am have been short-lived
Others have tried and failed in this arena before. Between 1996 and 1988, Eclipse Holdings launched an airline using the Pan Am name for operations between various US points and the Caribbean. However, a legal dispute ended this operation.
Then, unrelated to the first attempt, a small commuter airline in New Hampshire used the Pan Am brand on flights between 1998 and 2004.
These flights were later operated by Boston-Maine Airways, a sister company of the second reincarnation, which operated under the ‘Pan Am Clipper Connection’ brand from 2004 until 2008.
In November 2010, Pan American Airways was resurrected once again by World-Wide Consolidated Logistics to operate flights between the US and Mexico.
However, following serious legal proceedings brought against the company’s CEO, the FAA rescinded the company’s operating licence.
Boeing 757-200
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Most recently, with the help of the Pan Am Museum and tour operator Criterion Travel, the airline returned one more time in 2025 with a short-lived European tour using a specially configured all-business class Boeing 757 leased from Icelandair to operate the itinerary.
The company is planning further Pan Am-branded tours in 2026.
Will this latest plan succeed?
Only time will tell whether this latest venture gets off the ground and returns the iconic Pan Am brand to the US airways.
There will be many sceptics of such a move, with the US airline industry facing hard times financially and with passenger demand stagnant.
The current issues surrounding Spirit Airlines do not favour the prospects of a new Pan Am succeeding where others have failed.
However, starting an airline, with a new name or otherwise, is all about timing. It may just be that the combined teams at Avi8Air and Pan Am have carried out their business plan with the due diligence it requires and have got it right this time.
