Pan Am: History, Design & Identity

"The best book ever written on any airline, Pan Am or otherwise." Jeff Kriendler, former Pan Am vice president for corporate communications




Pan Am's famous jet age logo, the blue globe, has remained in our collective memory up to the present day, long after the airline's demise in 1991. A symbol of American belief in economic, technological and social progress has turned into an everlasting icon of global popular culture.



Pan Am: History, Design & Identity is the captivating story of a company that refused to consider anything impossible and single-handedly revolutionized air travel. It comprises an important chapter in the cultural history of 20th century America and in the history of travel - from the 1920s when passenger flight was very prestigious and exclusive to the time of mass tourism when flying became the most conventional and most important means of long distance travel. After it foundation in 1927 Pan Am rapidly developed into the world's best known and first truly global airline, continually delivering ground-breaking innovations the airline industry still benefits from today.

Its rapid rise was accompanied by proficient publicity and advertising conveying its services and many achievements. The company's iconic designs have left an indelible imprint and bear witness to history documenting economic and social change.


The book takes the reader on a journey into the daring world of early air travel, follows the first crossings of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, investigates commercial aviation during World War II, and gives a feeling of the thrill of the jet age when a plane ticket started to become affordable for the general public and mass tourism took off. A spellbinding visual storyline featuring more than 900 photos and illustrations supplements the meticulously researched text, allowing readers to retrace for themselves Pan Am's resourceful marketing and design initiatives. This volume is an inspired tribute to one of the most influential companies of the 20th century and a stunningly told cultural history of American modernism.

From internationally recognized design book publisher Callisto, this large format, 432-page book (measuring 9.2" x 12.2") was produced and designed according to the highest standards, printed on top of the line paper by acclaimed Italian manufacturer Fedrigoni. All images were reproduced and digitally restored true to the originals whenever possible to enable the reader to enjoy them with the same intensity Pan Am's customers did many years ago.