FogCreekCEO From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 23 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 7 months 20 hours ago) and read 4653 times:
In the 1970s and 1980s, why did all the airlines of communist countries fly out of the Pan Am terminal at JFK (as opposed to terminal 4 with all the other international airlines?)
And why was Pan Am the only American airline flying to communist countries?
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 9 Reply 2, posted (8 years 7 months 17 hours ago) and read 4452 times:
Before deregulation, there were really only two global U.S. airlines - Pan Am and TWA. Other airlines, such as Braniff and Eastern, had extensive and pioneering route networks in Central & South America and the Caribbean, but the blue globe and the double yellow globes were always considered THE international airlines. And their reputations were legendary...
In the eyes of the U.S. government (that did NOT provide a state-run national carrier such as Air Canada or Air France, etc), Pan Am and TWA were symbols of American influence all over the world. Much like the internet now, these airlines functioned to connect America to the world. So, when it came time to award routes to eastern Europe during the communist era, pictures of Uncle Sam on a Boeing or McDonnell Douglas jet itself could not have been more a symbol of American technology, progress, and bravada more than those airlines. They were our good-will ambassadors to the world. In return, when Eastern European airlines needed our assistance, who would they be most familiar with?
I miss these proud birds in our skies...now I'm getting verklemmt...talk amongst yourselves...
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
AA B777-200 From Netherlands, joined Mar 2001, 503 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (8 years 7 months 14 hours ago) and read 4338 times:
I agree PanAm747, at one point PanAm was THE face of America.
Since I'm Dutch I sometimes have the same feeling with KLM. Whenever I'm at some remote place in the world where the bluebird picks me up, it is then that I already feel home!
Hz747300 From Hong Kong, joined Mar 2004, 1599 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (8 years 7 months 10 hours ago) and read 4274 times:
PanAm and TWA were also the only American airlines that flew into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With the addition of the 747-SP, and then the 747-300, Saudia would use the PanAm terminal as well. In the early years of Saudia (now Saudia Arabian), TWA did a lot of work for the Saudi airline via contracts before abruptly pulling out of the Kingdom. I remember it well, as my mom and dad were terminated before being hired by Saudia directly.
I agree, at the time, it seemed that TWA with its two globes, and PanAm with its one globe, were the face of the US abroad. I'm not quite sure I would call PanAm an instrument of the US government though.
Clipper002 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 671 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (8 years 7 months 6 hours ago) and read 4149 times:
Having been there during that time frame, Pan Am's name was second only to Coca Cola in name recognition around the world. We were the ground handlers at JFK for LOT Polish, Aeroflot, CSA Czech Air, Tarom Romania as well as Saudia. These were all reciprocal agreements as these countries handled our flights also.
Acvitale From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 921 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (8 years 7 months 6 hours ago) and read 4120 times:
Additionally at the time of the CAB we had domestic and international designations for airlines.
Pan Am was extremely limited in which domestic destinations it could serve and who it could carry (ie connecting to Intl only) whereas domestic carriers like Delta, United etc were only supposed to go domestically, Mexico, Canada.
Later domestic carriers were given Intl rights but Pan Am and TWA were delayed for domestic because they were "too big and strong"
Clipper002 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 671 posts, RR: 14 Reply 8, posted (8 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 4064 times:
Activate,
A little correction. TWA always had a rather large domestic schedule while Pan Am had none. Juan Tripp had alienated so many congressmen that they absolutely refused to award any domestic traffic to Pan Am. Following deregulation, Pan Am finally had the opportunity to run a domestic market and this led to the acquisition of National. The only domestic service prior to that were extensions of International flights that could not carry any passengers between the 2 domestic city pairs.
Tolosy From Luxembourg, joined Oct 2003, 357 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (8 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 4050 times:
Since I'm Dutch I sometimes have the same feeling with KLM. Whenever I'm at some remote place in the world where the bluebird picks me up, it is then that I already feel home!
Well next time you will fly with KLM, you'll feel in France
Clipper002 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 671 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (8 years 7 months 2 hours ago) and read 3884 times:
Bobnwa,
Northwest still has a pretty big presence in SE Asia. Their original name was "Northwest Orient Airlines" and they were Pan Am's chief competitor. I was lucky enough to get one of their DC-7C's between ORD and IDL back in 1961. It originated at SIN and worked its' way back to New York. Had bunks and all for first class passengers.
Bobnwa From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 6030 posts, RR: 9 Reply 12, posted (8 years 7 months 1 hour ago) and read 3818 times:
Clipper002,
My question was asked tongue in cheek. I was trying to point out to PanAm747 that there were more than two global US airlines. Northwest was and is the largest US carrier to Asia.
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (8 years 6 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3708 times:
I stand corrected - I should have included Northwest Orient's Pacific route network with Braniff and Eastern's Americas network (I knew there were others!!). Their Tokyo hub was a spoil of WW2, which they have continued quite successfully today.
I'd be curious to know the extent of Pan Am's East and Northeast Asia service at its peak - how did it compare to NW?
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
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