News Summary
The iconic Pan Am brand is being resurrected by entrepreneurs in Orange County who acquired its intellectual property. Spearheaded by Steve Craig and Craig Carter, this initiative includes the opening of a Pan Am-themed hotel in 2026 and the launch of a new travel agency. Additionally, plans are in exploration for reinstating Pan Am as a commercial airline. Meanwhile, Long Beach Airport faces declining passenger traffic, reflecting challenges within the aviation industry as a whole, making these developments particularly intriguing.
Long Beach, CA – In a fascinating turn of events, the historic Pan Am brand is being revived by Orange County entrepreneurs who have acquired its intellectual property. This initiative, spearheaded by Steve Craig and Craig Carter, aims to resurrect the iconic legacy of Pan American World Airways, which originally launched in 1927 but ceased operations in the early 1990s. The aviation industry landscape is seeing significant shifts, as Long Beach Airport grapples with a stark drop in passenger traffic.
Steve Craig, founder of Craig Realty Group, a prominent owner of outlet malls in Newport Beach, and Craig Carter, former head of Luxe Travel Management currently integrated into JP Morgan’s travel division, have taken significant steps to breathe new life into the Pan Am brand. Among the ambitious projects is the anticipated opening of a Pan Am-themed hotel in 2026, which will be part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection, located near the Citadel Outlets in Commerce. A new travel agency under the Pan Am name has also opened in Laguna Hills, primarily catering to corporate clients.
Furthermore, the revival plan is exploring the possibility of reestablishing Pan Am as a commercial airline in collaboration with Miami’s AVi8 Air Capital. However, definitive details about this proposal have yet to be confirmed.
While the Pan Am brand is being revitalized, Long Beach Airport is facing challenging times. Recent reports indicate that passenger traffic at Los Angeles County airports overall fell by 3% in May year-over-year, with Long Beach experiencing a sharp 13% decline—the highest drop among the four major airports in the region. This heavy reliance on Southwest Airlines, which accounts for approximately 90% of all flights from Long Beach, may be contributing to these declines.
Passenger traffic statistics reveal that around 8 million travelers transited through the four major airports in Los Angeles County in May, a considerable decrease compared to the previous year. This trend parallels a broader pattern where the overall commercial aviation industry in the U.S. also experienced a 1.7% decrease in passenger traffic year-over-year. In particular, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) reported a 4% drop, now standing 15% below pre-pandemic passenger levels from May 2019. Conversely, Hollywood Burbank Airport saw a 7.5% increase in passengers, while Ontario International Airport maintained a slight 2% increase for the 51st consecutive month.
In an additional challenge for the aviation community, Sunrise Aviation Co., a prominent flight training school adjacent to John Wayne Airport, has closed after over 40 years in operation, due to health issues faced by its owner, Michael Church. This closure diminishes training opportunities in the region, reflecting broader changes in the aviation sector.
To enhance the travel experience, John Wayne Airport has been selected for the “Families on the Fly” program, which aims to improve security procedures for families traveling with children. Moreover, Long Beach Airport has introduced a new flight search tool called “FlyMyAirport,” which launched in 2025 to improve the user experience on its website.
The aviation landscape in Los Angeles is undergoing significant adjustments, with airports like Long Beach and Hollywood Burbank adapting their route structures to align with market demands, amid a backdrop of fluctuating passenger numbers and evolving operational circumstances. As exciting developments unfold around the Pan Am brand, the industry remains attentive to these shifting dynamics as they navigate an uncertain future.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Business Journal: LAX, Long Beach Airports See Less Passengers
- Long Beach Post: Long Beach Airport Launches New Search Tool
- Travel and Tour World: Long Beach Airport’s Efficient Connectivity
- Future Travel Experience: FTE Global 2024 in Long Beach
- Time: JetZero and Low Carbon Air Travel
- Wikipedia: Air Travel
- Google Search: Long Beach Airport
- Google Scholar: Aviation Industry Trends
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Aviation
- Google News: Long Beach Airport Traffic Statistics
Author: STAFF HERE HUNTINGTON BEACH
The Huntington Beach Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Huntington Beach, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Huntington Beach Surf City USA Marathon, the U.S. Open of Surfing, Fourth of July celebrations at the Huntington Beach Pier, and community festivals at Huntington Beach Central Park. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visit Huntington Beach, plus leading businesses in retail, hospitality, and outdoor recreation that drive the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERESantaAna.com, and HERELosAngeles.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.
