The motto "The World's Most Experiended Airline" led to people pointing out after any mishap that Pan-Am was having another of their experiences.

I remember flying Pan Am back in 1986 heading home from college. They lost a backpack that I had checked for luggage. I never got it back.

The Gulf War. In October of 1990, I flew in a Pan Am 747 to the War Zone in Saudi Arabia. The return flight in March was on an America West 747.

I should also point out that Flight 103 was not the only terrorist attack to hit Pan Am, as there was also Flight 830 in Hawaii (which was also bombed) and more famously, Flight 73, a hijacking in Pakistan. Those incidents soured Pan Am's rep pretty badly, and Flight 103 was pretty much the final nail in the coffin.

Loosing $3 million a day sounds like it’s $2 million dollars more than the Penn Central, which was loosing $1 million dollars a day!

WHAT THE HELL i just watched you other pam am video not even 10 minutes ago ... what is this coincidence

I feel like Pan Am selling off a whole market was like Milwaukee Road selling off the Pacific Extension

De-regulation is what really killed Pan Am, nothing else. When the oil crisis hit, if all carriers were regulated all would raise prices the same so it came to personal preference. Unions had an effect but at the time all the large carriers had the presence of unions.

I was a travel agent from 1986 until 2001 and, early on, had sold a number of tickets on Pam Am flights out of JFK and MIA. I hated to see them go out of business but, clearly, they didn't know how to run a successful airline once the airline industry was deregulated.

I was born in 1985, and as a kid I can remember ashtrays in the arm rests

Great video Darkness, fascinating information on the fall of an iconic airline.

Sorry for commenting again but the term “complacency” sounded familiar. That’s what the Baldwin Locomotive Works felt during the transition era from steam to diesel locomotives.

i'm really liking this type of content! keep it up, darkness!

Interesting take on the fall...Not to be nitpicking here but a couple of your place pronunciations were incorrect. Recheck "Heathrow" and "Barbados"... Plus you forgot the TV series Pan AM

As for deregulation, Pan Am should have focused on building their own domestic network from the group up or partnered (not buy) an up and coming competitor that lacked lucrative international routes.

I knew you talked about major railroads that went down under, along with some highly obscure airlines here and there, but I didn’t think you were ever gonna touch on Pan Am. But hey, I’m not complaining

If only...Instead of overpaying for National, Pan Am could've underpaid for PSA to feed the west coast routes, Allegheny & Piedmont in the east, and Ozark for the middle.

Pan Am was finished after the December 21st, 1988 Pan Am flight 103 Lockerbie, Scotland terrorist bombing bring down the 747 jet killing all on board. I remember that tragedy. PAN AM charged an extra $10 for a ticket for upgraded security. A Warning Alert was sent out 2 weeks before the bombing a possible terrorist attack on a Pan Am jet in London around Christmas. After the bombing the warning was found in a file and never was taken seriously. Imagine THAT happening today. Pan Am did not check the luggage the bomb was in as it was transferred from a jet from West Germany to Flight 103. After the bombing the employees knew PAN AM was finished too as talk to victims relatives and PAN AM Officials went into Cover their behinds Mode afterward and were very uncooperative to the victims families. PAN AM filed for bankruptcy in 1991. After Flight 103 Pan Am was deservedly finished. IF you have never learned much about the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 Lockerbie Bombing DON'T!! I did dig into it going down the rabbit hole. It's one of the most senseless depressing Air Travel tragedies in aviation history that should not have happened. Rest In Peace to all the victims and sympathy to all the relatives.

If they just left National alone, the maybe both airlines would still be around today

Airline Security was a joke in the 1980's and 1990's. Low payed and mistrained personel at most Airports and Airlines. Most were outsourced and that it made it worse. It was bad!

20:39 Heathrow = HEETH-roe 25:10 Barbados = bar-BAYD-ose 26:42 Icahn rhymes with icon (long stressed I, syllables run together)

I'm guessing we can't blame SAUNDERS on this.