Pan Am To Order The Airbus A220?

The Pan Am name is hopeful of returning to the industry sooner rather than later, and that business is seeking the Airbus A220 to form the backbone.

Industry chatter suggests that the refreshed brand, hoping to make a mark, would aim to push for an order sooner rather than later, but with still many issues, that timeline could, and is likely to balloon.

While optimism remains and there are internal hopes of making the A220 the backbone, many questions remain about whether this iconic brand has a realistic chance of returning.

What Is This New PanAm

The project, which bears Pan Am’s name, saw a Group of investors led by entrepreneur Craig Carter purchase all related intellectual property to revive the trademark and create a lifestyle brand based on the legendary airline.

While nostalgia loomed, this was a pitch to make the business not just about nostalgia, but to become part of the U.S. industry again, with a base in Miami and a fleet focused on more Airbus mid-sized single-aisles.

The initiative aimed to tap into more transcontinental destinations rather than international flights, with the Boeing 747, as the original carrier did, in the often-described golden era of travel that has long passed.

All this beyond the flights, the scope, what the owners felt to be unlimited, with the view of Pan Am hotels, Pan Am airport lounges, a Pan Am restaurant or a tote bag. This ambition is commendable, but it often faces heavy criticism from those who believe the business case is unrealistic.

Why Is The Name Coming Back?

Pan American World Airways, more commonly known as Pan Am, is etched into aviation folklore as one of the most instantly recognizable brands, and that remains the case more than three decades after it collapsed in the early 1990s.

For many, the blue globe local can be recognised anywhere and is a callback to simpler times when glamour and aviation were pioneered, with a focus on innovation and the true dawn of the jet age, which has since developed considerably.

As a result, there’s an emotional recognition of this naming that still exists, rather than a completely new brand name attempting to enter history without any story. As such, Pan Am has a brand with instant global recognition, let alone within the United States.

The nostalgia factor, while not the sole basis for special flights, is important as the company aims to capture some market share among those initially targeted who romanticize the old PanAm.

While there’s weight to the idea that the name could bring back travellers and pique the interest of many, there are also risks that this could be a cash grab with no legitimacy behind the drive to grow. The new airline has to and continues to try to show investors this isn’t some Hail Mary, but rather a business model that aims to stick the landing.

The Airbus A220 Comes Into View

Pan Am’s interest in the A220, in the context of its aspirations, came into view last month and is seen as a potential launch platform. However, a prospective order is still in the works and requires much more than just negotiations with Airbus: financial support, investor and regulatory clearance, and an unproven airline.

Ed Wegel, the CEO of Pan Am, spoke with CNN in May and said that, for the moment, one of the biggest obstacles remains building the early stages of the fleet, as the industry faces persistent supply chain constraints that have limited availability.

During these discussions, the A220 was identified as the most suitable choice, but that may not be the aircraft they start operations with; more likely, it will be the A320, and the A220s will be introduced at a later date.

Eventually, a fleet of 25-30 single-aisle jets would form the backbone of the short- to medium-haul network, and then the widebody fleet would grow to support international flying, with 10-15 jets. However, despite the ambition, the bold expansion lacks a firm timeline, with many roadblocks still in the way.

Attempts to bring back fallen iconic brands, not just within the aviation industry but the world, have been seen time and time again, often collapsing before they get off the ground. As such, very few believe in the legitimacy of this new endeavour or that it’ll get off the ground.

The reasons for this not being taken seriously are evident: from the sheer investment required for the certification, slots, aircraft, and the overall process to launch to market, to the business model and more, there is a struggle to turn a profit.

However, this new brand, using the Pan Am brand, is determined and wants the A220 to be the backbone. Whether it ever gets to the point of an agreement with Airbus is one thing; let alone formally getting back in the skies again through these lifestyle-oriented operations.