MIAMI — The iconic Pan American World Airways — better known as Pan Am — could soon make a return to the skies. AVi8 Air Capital, a specialized aviation merchant bank, announced it has completed a comprehensive business case review for the potential relaunch of Pan Am as a scheduled commercial airline.

The review follows a June 2025 partnership agreement between AVi8 Air Capital and Pan Am Brands, a division of Pan American Global Holdings, LLC. The collaboration was formed to determine the feasibility of reintroducing Pan Am as a U.S.-based scheduled carrier.

According to the companies, Pan Am has now initiated the certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — a critical step required for operating under Part 121 of U.S. aviation regulations, which govern commercial passenger airlines.

If certified, the new Pan Am would be headquartered in Miami and operate a fleet of Airbus aircraft, pending all required FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation approvals.

“Pan Am has formally initiated the certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a key step toward re-establishing Pan Am as a U.S. Part 121 scheduled carrier,” the company stated in its announcement. AVi8 says it has assembled an experienced certification team and has received “strong initial support from aircraft lessors and key vendors.”

The company did not specify a launch timeline but indicated that further updates on certification milestones will be provided in the coming months.

Pan Am, once considered the flagship airline of the United States, ceased operations in 1991 after decades as a symbol of luxury air travel. Previous efforts to revive the brand in various forms — including regional operations and rail partnerships — have not lasted long.

Founded as a consulting and investment firm, AVi8 Air Capital has been involved in launching and restructuring multiple airlines and aviation financing ventures over the past 40 years.

_{Photo credit: Creative Commons, Aero Icarus}