Pan American-Grace Airways
Encyclopedia
Pan American-Grace Airways, better known as Panagra, was an airline
formed as a joint venture
between Pan American World Airways
and Grace Shipping Company
.
to the Andean
countries of South America
, connecting as far south as Buenos Aires
and Santiago, Chile
. The airline was founded in 1929 to compete with SCADTA
, a German
-owned company, and held a quasi-monopoly over air travel in many parts of Colombia and South America during the 1940s and 1950s. Panagra merged with Braniff International Airways
in 1967. Braniff operated the Panagra routes to South America until 1982, when Eastern Air Lines
purchased its South American operations. Beginning in 1990, these routes were operated by American Airlines
.
Grace Shipping was a subsidiary of W. R. Grace and Company
. W. R. Grace once had a 50% share of Pan American-Grace Airways, which also is known as Panagra through Grace Shipping.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
formed as a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
between Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
and Grace Shipping Company
W. R. Grace and Company
W. R. Grace and Company is a Columbia, Maryland, United States based chemical conglomerate.The company has two main divisions, Davison Chemicals and Performance Chemicals. The Davison unit makes chemical catalysts, refining catalysts, and silica-based products that let other companies make...
.
History
Panagra operated flights from the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to the Andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
countries of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, connecting as far south as Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. The airline was founded in 1929 to compete with SCADTA
SCADTA
The Colombian-German Air Transport Society , or SCADTA, was the world's second airline, and the first airline of the American continent, operating from 1919 until World War II. After the war, SCADTA merged with Colombian regional carrier Colombian Air Service , or SACO. Together, SCADTA and SACO...
, a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-owned company, and held a quasi-monopoly over air travel in many parts of Colombia and South America during the 1940s and 1950s. Panagra merged with Braniff International Airways
Braniff International Airways
Braniff International Airways was an American airline that operated from 1928 until 1982, primarily in the midwestern and southwestern U.S., South America, Panama, and in its later years also Asia and Europe...
in 1967. Braniff operated the Panagra routes to South America until 1982, when Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
purchased its South American operations. Beginning in 1990, these routes were operated by American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
.
Grace Shipping was a subsidiary of W. R. Grace and Company
W. R. Grace and Company
W. R. Grace and Company is a Columbia, Maryland, United States based chemical conglomerate.The company has two main divisions, Davison Chemicals and Performance Chemicals. The Davison unit makes chemical catalysts, refining catalysts, and silica-based products that let other companies make...
. W. R. Grace once had a 50% share of Pan American-Grace Airways, which also is known as Panagra through Grace Shipping.