Pan Asian Air to be based in Bloomington-Normal

April 1 - BLOOMINGTON, IL

You may have missed this story in the aviation news. Pan Asian Air has announced that it will begin operations this month with four daily nonstops to Tokyo (NRT), Hong Kong (HKG), Singapore (SIN), and Bangkok (BKK). Operations will be based in Pan Asian's new North American hub at Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI). Boeing 777 aircraft will be used on the routes, configured for three-class service.

The new service is a strategic venture to service the growing worldwide business ventures of State Farm Insurance, based in Bloomington, IL. Pan Asian Air also seeks first-to-market status in the rapidly developing Asian tourist interest in the central Illinois vacation market. Airline officials believe that many Asian tourists are dissuaded due to crowded conditions at hub airports such as Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD).

A subsidiary of the airline, Pan Asian Vacations, will aggressively market bus trips to bring Asian tourists to the American heartland. Planned itineraries include stops at the Lincoln Home National Historical Site in Springfield; the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen; the renowned McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington; and the exciting John Deere Collectors Center in Moline.

Pan Asian Air is the new aviation division of Pan Asian Creations, Ltd., established in 1999 to satisfy the ever-changing and demanding needs of the novelty, seasonal gift and display markets. More information may be found at its corporate website.


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