“And of course the look of the plane itself. It was gorgeous.” For Pan Am, the first airline to fly the 747, all those additional passengers prompted a frenzy of hiring. The airline wanted to ...

Ever since it first took to the skies (with passengers) in January 1970 with launch customer Pan Am Airways, the 747 has cemented itself as one of the most beloved commercial aircraft in history.

Continuing its pioneering spirit, Pan Am became the first airline to operate jumbo jets, including the Boeing 707 and 747. They also introduced the first computerized reservation system ...