PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS TO LAUNCH SCHEDULED PASSENGER SERVICE TO PUERTO RICO
1/25/01
Pan Am returns to San Juan after a four-year hiatus. Photo (above) is Pan Am's operation at San Juan in 1972 (airliners.net)

Daily Round Trips Will Connect Orlando Sanford, Florida With San Juan, Puerto Rico Beginning In May 2001

Portsmouth, NH: Pan American Airways will return the familiar Blue Globe and tradition of quality service to the Caribbean this Spring with the introduction of daily service between the Orlando Sanford International Airport and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The flights will be operated as scheduled passenger service and will operate in conjunction with Carlson Wagonlit Travel/Turavia. In addition to the San Juan routes, the airline and travel agency will offer twice a week charter service between San Juan and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. San Juan service will begin on May 24, 2001.
Dave Fink, President of Pan Am, said, “We couldn’t be more excited and enthusiastic about these new routes. The Pan Am legacy was forged in providing quality service in the Caribbean during the very early days of airline travel. Today the airline’s management is quite proud to be returning to this market.” Fink added, “We believe that the market opportunity of linking Orlando with San Juan is quite attractive. The Orlando Sanford International Airport is fast becoming an important hub of operations for Pan Am, and with increased numbers of international and domestic passengers at their new, expanded facility, we are confident of success.”
The route will be operated as a part of a strategic relationship between Pan Am and Carlson Wagonlit Travel/Turavia, a leading national travel agency firm. The route partnership will allow Carlson Wagonlit/Turavia to develop travel packages in conjunction with Pan Am’s scheduled service.
The Pan Am/Carlson Wagonlit partnership will also begin a twice a week charter service between San Juan and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in May. This Monday and Friday route will support a vacation package offer available through Carlson Wagonlit Travel/Turavia and Barcelo Hotels.
The Pan Am/San Juan service will be available through Pan Am’s reservations system at www.flypanam.com as well as 1-800-FLYPANAM. Pan Am will soon announce additional San Juan flights, which will link existing Pan Am destinations through Orlando Sanford.

Dan Fortnam, Pan Am’s Vice President for Marketing said, "Pan Am’s Clipper Service to San Juan and the Dominican Republic is a real milestone for the airline. Our strategy of providing passengers with a low hassle and comfortable flying experience is just what the market is demanding. Our reconfigured aircraft provide more legroom, and our use of congestion free airports will continue as a key feature of our Caribbean Service” Fortnam added, “It’s time to restore some civility and comfort to air travel. Pan Am is doing this and the public has responded quite well”
Schedules & Fares
Scheduled passenger service between Orlando Sanford International Airport and San Juan International Airport will begin on May 24, 2001. The initial schedule will be as follows:
Service will be daily except for Tuesdays, all times are local:
San Juan service to Orlando Sanford: Depart San Juan at 10:20 AM and arrive at Orlando Sanford at 1:10 PM. Return service will depart Orlando Sanford at 2:10 PM and arrive at San Juan at 5:00 PM.
Fares will begin at $198 each way. Pan Am Clipper fares do NOT require a round trip purchase, Saturday night stay or advance purchase.
About Pan Am
The original Pan Am, founded in the late 1920’s by Juan Trippe, set the standard for modern air travel worldwide as the operator of the famous Pan Am Clippers and, later, as the first to fly the Boeing 747. Along the way, Pan Am’s blue globe became one of the most recognized logos in the world.
The owners of New Hampshire-based Guilford Transportation Industries acquired the new Pan Am in June of 1998. The new owners relocated the company’s headquarters from Ft. Lauderdale to Portsmouth in December of 1998. At Portsmouth, the company operates a 220,000 square foot maintenance facility, as well as other aviation-related businesses.
Pan Am currently provides scheduled passenger service to the Orlando area from Portsmouth, NH, Gary/Chicago, Bangor, ME, Lehigh Valley International Airport (Allentown, PA) and Mid America St. Louis. Service from Worcester, MA will start on February 6th.