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Just before World War II, #onthisday in 1939, Pan American Airways claimed the honor for the United States of establishing the first regular air mail service across the Atlantic, mirroring their earlier feat of establishing of the first regular air service across the Pacific. Passenger service followed a month later. The route included service from Port Washington, New York to Marseilles, France via the Azores and Lisbon, Portugal. It took around 36 hours of flying time, 51 total hours with layovers, to complete the trip, and a round-trip ticket cost $675, equivalent to $11,000 today. Pan American Airways, FAM-18, first airmail flight cover, New York - Horta route 1939 SFO Museum Collection Gift of the Captain John B. Russell Family 2012.149.2220 a b This image was posted on May 20, 2016.