The following June, a Boeing 757 from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) will fly out of Pan American World Airways – the unmistakable logo of Pan American World Airways – “blue meatball” and all.
No, it’s not just a seemingly retro livery paying homage to the historic American carrier most closely associated with the Golden Age of Aviation.
The flight will, technically, be operated by Pan Am itself.
How is that possible, you may ask? And in other words… is Pan Am back?
Well, it kind of is.
After thirty years of serving passengers around the world through the airline (with legendary service that is still fondly remembered), the brand – one of the most recognizable in aviation history – is in a way getting a second lease on life.
As part of this second act, you’ll be able to enjoy preflight drinks at a Pan Am airport lounge in the not-too-distant future.
Bringing back Pan Am… sort of
In February, a group of investors bought the Pan Am brand, and they have big plans to bring the name back to the forefront of aviation.
To be clear, you won’t see an actual Pan Am airline rising from the ashes of a historic carrier.
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“We have no desire to start regularly scheduled services,” said Craig Carter, who can now legally identify himself as CEO of Pan American World Airways — a position once held by the airline’s founder, aviation magnate Juan Trippe.
No, Carter said, it would not be possible to replicate the level of service for which Trippany Pan was known – from its long-flying, surprisingly luxurious Boeing 314 Clipper flying boats to the legacy that its successors carried on through much of the 20th century. .
“In light of deregulation, you can’t really bring Pan Am back to that certain kind of era and honor it well with the iconic routes that we’re in,” Carter told TPG in his first major interview since taking office. brand.
But come next summer, Pan Am’s livery — and, in many ways, its legacy — will do To be on full display.
2025 luxury trips are planned
Now a full-scale travel company, the new Pan Am (officially Pan Am Global Holdings, LLC) is collaborating with two luxury travel agencies on a 12-day cruise in 2025. The trip will honor the airline’s heritage and also retrace its historic routes. Map.
The Pan Am-decorated Boeing 757 aircraft will depart JFK on June 27, 2025 and fly to Europe.
Operated by tour company Bartelings, the tour promises to be anything but a routine transatlantic voyage.
For starters, the entire jet features business-class-style lie-flat seats on Boeing 757s leased from Icelandair; In the past, TPG Got a look at the comfort of a similar jet used by another major tour company.
The itinerary is closely modeled after the route of Pan Am’s 1920s international Clipper flying boats (amphibious aircraft that could take off and land on water and were known for their surprisingly comfortable accommodations).
Passengers will regain the flying pattern of Pan Am’s southern transatlantic route between New York City and Marseilles, France, and its northern route between London and New York. Other notable stops include Bermuda, Lisbon and Foynes, Ireland.
The company tells TPG to expect plenty of nods to the historic airline as well, noting that the entire experience “has been painstakingly designed to honor Pan Am’s unmatched heritage in the most respectful way.”
“It will have the Pan Am livery,” Carter said. “We can do as much as we can with the interior … the pilots will wear Pan Am uniforms, [as well as] flight attendants.”
You will also find plenty of luxuries along the way. The experience begins and ends with the opening and closing ceremonies at the Waldorf Astoria New York, now nearing the end of an expensive and years-long facelift.
The trip also includes high-end hotel stays, from Rosewood Bermuda to the Four Seasons Ritz in Lisbon, The Savoy in London and the Dromoland Castle Hotel in Ireland.
Plus, guests will be treated to an exclusive, aviation-inspired dinner experience at the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum in Ireland, where a replica of the world’s only Boeing 314 Clipper long-range flying boat is on display.
However, unlike an upper-class ticket on Pan Am, this trip won’t be cheap.
Tickets start at $59,950 per person for a party of two or $65,500 for a single ticket. The company says it has sold about half the seats on the 50-pod jet.
Lounge, other Pan AM experiences are planned
Hoping for an immersive Pan Am experience that won’t break the bank? You can now buy Pan Am gear on the company’s website.
But if you’re looking for something more immersive, the brand is planning to open a Boeing 747-themed restaurant near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this winter called the “Pan Am Experience” — sure to be raved about by AvGeeks. is And tourists of a certain age alike.
“We really want Pan Am to be front and center,” Carter said. “Everything you can think of to try to put the brand back in people’s minds.”
And, get this: The company confirms it’s in talks to open Pan Am airport lounges at three “high-profile airports” in the US.
Details are sparse, but early visions call for a pay-to-access space where you can get some food and drinks and have a place to rest before a flight, Carter said.
“It’s not like Delta [Sky Club] lounge,” he explained. “Once you come in they’ll have food, drinks, things like that, but it’ll be pretty open for people to walk in; It will have the Pan Am nostalgia, seating… look and feel.”
No, we are not back to the golden age of aviation. And it won’t be the same Pan Am, no doubt.
But for aviation enthusiasts who remember the brand fondly, there are a few more reminders of its legacy on the horizon.
“For us, we believe that the iconic blue meatball is something that people still enjoy seeing,” Carter said. “It still has a certain amount of cachet, even today and among the younger generation.”
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