Pan Am Revives the Golden Age of Air Travel

In 1945, Pan American Airways pioneered a new era of commercial jet travel by becoming the first airline to offer an economy class. While this made air travel more accessible, the Pan Am brand remains a symbol of luxury, known for its exquisite meals, stylish flight attendants, and roomy seating in its original aircraft. Unfortunately, this cultural icon ceased operations in 1991.

Now, Pan Am is poised to soar once again. An exclusive 12-day journey will revisit the original glamorous days of air travel, retracing the historic southern and northern transatlantic routes of Pan Am. This trip is organized by Pan American World Airways, launching in February 2024, in collaboration with the Pan Am Museum Foundation, and is officially licensed by Pan Am Brands.

“Since 1927, Pan Am has made a lasting impact on the world. From its modest beginnings as the first commercial carrier for U.S. Air Mail, founder Juan T. Trippe built a vast aviation empire that connected the globe, literally bringing the world closer with every flight,” said Craig Carter, CEO of Pan American World Airways and host of the commemorative flight, in a press release.

Earlier this year, Pan American World Airways acquired the legendary Pan Am brand, and this journey is part of a broader initiative to relaunch and reestablish the Pan Am name in the travel industry. Carter emphasized that the company recognizes “limitless opportunities to further capitalize on the Pan Am brand,” including exclusive airport lounges and branded merchandise showcasing the iconic Pan Am logo, among other projects.

The journey will commence with 50 passengers aboard a chartered Boeing 757 configured entirely for business class, departing from New York City on June 27, 2025. The flight will make stops in Bermuda, Lisbon, Portugal, Marseilles, France, London, England, and Foynes, Ireland, before returning to New York on July 8.

The program will be managed by Bartelings, a company known for organizing global tours via private aircraft, and Criterion Travel, a tour operator specializing in educational journeys.

As we become accustomed to viewing travel merely as a commodity, often a way to move from point A to B at the lowest cost, Criterion noted on its website that the upcoming Pan Am journey aims to evoke the “Golden Age” of travel—”a period when the journey itself was a luxurious experience, making the trip as significant and memorable as the destination.”

Criterion indicates that travelers can look forward to premium catering, an open bar, the option to stream in-flight entertainment on their personal devices, and a carefully selected crew that will accompany them throughout the journey.

On land, guests will reside in some of the world's most luxurious hotels, including the Rosewood in Bermuda, the Four Seasons Ritz in Lisbon, the Savoy in London, and Dromoland Castle in Ireland (the hotel in France is yet to be revealed). The journey will also feature unique events, such as an evening of fado music in Portugal and a private dinner at the Flying Boat and Maritime Museum in Ireland, home to the only Boeing 314 Clipper replica in existence. (The Clipper, capable of landing on water, was primarily utilized by Pan Am in the 1930s.) Gala evenings will take place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City before and after the trip.

The cost for the 2025 Pan Am Airways commemorative journey is $59,950 per person based on double occupancy, or $65,500 for single occupancy, which includes flights, lodging, most meals and beverages, along with a branded swag bag. Tickets can be purchased through the Criterion Travel website.

Regarding future Pan Am journeys, Carter mentioned that the 2025 trip marks "the first of many exclusive themed flights returning to the luxury travel arena."

He emphasized, "Reviving Pan Am requires a delicate balance of honoring its rich history while embracing innovation for the future," noting the goal is to celebrate the nostalgia associated with the brand while enhancing the offering with contemporary amenities to appeal to both loyal fans and new travelers.

While the new Pan American World Airways has not disclosed many details about future flights, the company has announced plans for a special around-the-world private jet trip in 2027 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pan Am's founding.