PREMIERE

"PAN AM," NEW HOUR-LONG SERIES ABOUT THE ADVENTURE AND EXCITEMENT OF THE JET AGE, PREMIERES SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK

Passion, adventure and espionage� They experienced it all - and they experienced it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in the highly anticipated new series, "Pan Am," premiering SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Welcome to the Jet Age. It's 1963. WWII and Korea are history. A new kind of war, a Cold War, is underway. The world is poised on the brink of a cultural revolution, and everywhere change is in the air. In this modern world, air travel represents the height of luxury, and Pan Am is the biggest name in the business. The planes are sleek and glamorous, the pilots are rock stars, and the stewardesses are the most desirable women in the world. Not only are these flyboys and girls young and good looking, but to represent Pan Am they also have to be educated, cultured and refined. They're trained to handle everything from in-air emergencies to unwanted advances - all without rumpling their pristine uniforms or mussing their hair. These pre-feminist women form a powerful sisterhood, as they enjoy the rare opportunity to travel outside the country -- something most women in this age can only aspire to - and one of the few career options that offers them empowerment and respect.

At Pan Am there's Dean (Mike Vogel), a cocky, charismatic and ambitious new pilot - the first of a new breed not trained in war. A farm boy from a small rural town, Dean finds himself thrust into a leadership position at Pan Am far too young, but is eager to prove himself as the new face of the airline. On the sly, he's dating Bridget (guest star Annabelle Wallis), a beauty with a mysterious past. Co-pilot Ted (Michael Mosley) comes from wealth and privilege, but his powerful family is a blessing and a curse, and he has his own dark secrets. A rebellious bohemian, Maggie (Christina Ricci) turns into a buttoned up professional for work in order to see the world, trying to balance her hunger for life with her undefined ambitions. Also on this crew is flirtatious French stewardess Colette (Karine Vanasse), who is the empathetic caretaker of the group. And finally there are the sisters, the spirited Kate (Kelli Garner) and her beauty queen younger sister, Laura (Margot Robbie), a runaway bride who recently fled a life of domestic boredom to take to the skies.

In the premiere episode, "Pilot," Dean takes on his first assignment since his promotion, piloting the Clipper Majestic on its inaugural New York to London flight. Bridget is supposed to be his lead stewardess, until she's a no-show for the flight. Grounded purser Maggie is called in to fill in for her. On the same fateful flight, Kate adds another dimension to her work as she takes on her first assignment from U.S. intelligence. Her stress is compounded when she discovers that newly minted stewardess, Laura, her sister, is also working the same flight.

"Pan Am" stars Christina Ricci ("Penelope") as Maggie, Margot Robbie ("Neighbours") as Laura, Michael Mosley ("Justified") as Ted, Mike Vogel ("The Help," "Blue Valentine") as Dean, Karine Vanasse ("Polytechnique") as Colette, and Kelli Garner ("Going the Distance") as Kate.

Guest starring are David Harbour as Sabel/Anderson, Jeremy Davidson as Handsome Stranger/Richard, Annabelle Wallis as Bridget Pierce, Will Chase as John, Veanne Cox as Miss Havemeyer, C.J. Wilson as Howard, Kate Jennings Grant as Judith and Hope Allen as Evelyn.

Series creator Jack Orman ("ER," "Men of a Certain Age,"), Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing," "Parenthood," "Mr. Sunshine") and Nancy Hult Ganis ("Akeelah and the Bee") are executive producers. Orman also wrote the pilot, with Schlamme directing. "Pan Am" is produced by Jack Orman Productions, Out of the Blue Entertainment and Shoe Money Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television.

"Pan Am" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's Selected HD Format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG,L parental guideline.