Pan Am Is Back! This Time as an Airport Hotel Chain.

A classic airline name is returning to terminals with a new airport-first hotel concept. The pitch blends mid-century style with day-use rooms, shower suites, and crew-friendly operations aimed at fixing the modern layover.

A new hotel brand using the classic Pan Am name is being developed for major airports, with first openings targeted for 2028. The concept blends mid-century design cues with 24-hour operations, day-use flexibility, and services aimed at travelers stuck between flights.

What the Pan Am Hotel brand is promising

The plan positions Pan Am Hotel as an airport-first lifestyle brand. Expect a mix of hourly micro-stays, standard rooms for disrupted itineraries, and crew contract blocks. Supporting features may include quiet work pods, shower suites, reliable soundproofing, and landside access so guests can arrive without clearing security first. The developer has indicated it will operate properties directly and is pursuing a pipeline of airport sites, with early focus on Europe and additional locations under discussion.

Timing and rollout

Initial openings are slated for 2028. Specific airports have not been announced, but the target list favors large hubs where walking times, security queues, and irregular operations create sustained demand for recovery options near the gate.

How this differs from other nostalgia plays

Airline heritage in hospitality is not new. The Pan Am concept appears to lean more into operations that serve real layover needs, such as day-use inventory, crew solutions, and predictable quiet hours, rather than only building a design showpiece. A separate Pan Am-themed project in Los Angeles under Hilton’s Tapestry Collection is planned for 2026 at the Citadel Outlets. That property is off-airport and distinct from the airport-focused chain described here.

Early brand touchpoints

A Berlin lounge and suite carrying the Pan Am name, along with two boutique hotels in Vienna labeled “operated by Pan Am Hotel,” have been used to preview aesthetic cues and service standards that could carry into the airport portfolio. You can take a peek at those two locations here and here.

Why airport hotels are getting a rethink

Airports are evolving into mixed-use districts with rail links, retail, and office components. That shift opens new real estate plots and changes guest expectations. A brand that treats delays, tight connections, and early arrivals as core use cases can build demand that is not tied only to overnight stays. On-airport assets also benefit from non-discretionary demand created by disruptions and crew scheduling.

What to watch next

• Site announcements that show how the brand balances landside convenience with gate proximity
• Airline partnerships for delay vouchers and crew scheduling
• Day-use pricing transparency and app flows that show live checkpoint times and walking distance

The broader Pan Am revival arc

The hotel plan arrives alongside other efforts that trade on the brand’s legacy, such as specialty trips and terminal restorations. These projects target different traveler segments but signal ongoing commercial interest in Pan Am imagery.

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