Next June, a Boeing 757 will take off from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), wearing Pan American World Airways’ signature logo — “blue meatball” and all.
No, this isn’t a retro livery just for show, paying tribute to the historic American airline most associated with the Golden Age of aviation.
Technically, this flight will be operated by Pan Am itself.
You may ask, how is that possible? And in other words… To be Pan Am Return?
Yes, that’s right.
Thirty-three years after the airline’s final round-the-world passenger flight (with legendary service still fondly remembered), the brand — one of the most famous in aviation history — is getting a chance to revive itself in some way.
In this second act, you can enjoy a pre-flight drink at the Pan Am airport lounge in the not-too-distant future.
Bringing Pan Am Back… Kind of
In February, a group of investors bought the Pan Am brand and they have big plans to bring the brand back to the top of the airline industry.
To be clear, you won’t see Pan Am actually rising from the ashes of this historic airline.
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“We have no desire to open regularly scheduled services,” said Craig Carter, who can now call himself CEO of Pan American World Airways — a title once held by the airline’s founder and aviation pioneer Juan Trippe.
No, Carter said, it would not be possible to replicate the level of service Trippe’s Pan Am was famous for—from the surprisingly luxurious Boeing 314 Clipper seaplanes, flying so far that the legacy his successors carried on throughout the 20th century.
“In the face of deregulation, you can’t really take Pan Am back to that particular era and honor it with iconic routes in the times we’re living in,” Carter told TPG in his first major interview since taking over the brand.
But by the following summer, Pan Am’s livery — and in many ways, its legacy — will is displayed in full.
Luxury trip in 2025 is planned
Now a major travel company, Pan Am (formally known as Pan Am Global Holdings, LLC) is partnering with two luxury travel companies on a 12-day trip in 2025 that will honor the airline’s heritage and also retrace its historic route.
The Boeing 757, decked out in Pan Am livery, will depart JFK on June 27, 2025 and fly to Europe.
Run by travel company Bartelings, the trip promises to be unlike any other transatlantic voyage.
First, the entire jet has lie-flat business-class seats on a Boeing 757 leased from Icelandair; previously, TPG have seen the comfort of a similar jet used by another major travel company.
The itinerary is closely designed to follow the routes of the Pan Am international network of the 1920s. Clipper Flying Boat (amphibious aircraft that can take off and land on water and are known for their surprisingly comfortable accommodations).
Passengers will look back on Pan Am’s southern transatlantic routes 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 also told TPG to expect plenty of recognition for the historic airline, noting that the entire experience “has been meticulously designed to honor Pan Am’s unparalleled legacy in the most respectful way.”
“It will be in Pan Am livery,” Carter said. “We can improve the interior as much as possible… the pilots will wear Pan Am uniforms, [as well as] flight attendant.”
You’ll also find plenty of luxury along the way. The experience begins and ends with an opening and closing gala at the Waldorf Astoria New York, which is currently nearing the end of a Cosmetic surgery is expensive and takes years.
The trip also includes stays at luxury hotels, from the Rosewood Bermuda to the Four Seasons Ritz in Lisbon, The Savoy in London and the Dromoland Castle Hotel in Ireland.
Additionally, guests will experience an exclusive aviation-inspired dinner at the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum in Ireland, which houses the world’s only replica Boeing 314 Clipper long-range flying boat.
However, like the old Pan Am luxury tickets, this trip won’t come cheap.
Tickets start at $59,950 per person for a group of two, or $65,500 for a single ticket. The company said it has sold nearly half of the seats on the 50-seat jet.
Lounge, other Pan AM experiences planned
Looking for an exciting Pan Am experience without breaking the bank? You can now buy Pan Am merchandise on the company’s website.
But if you’re looking for something a little 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 a hit with AvGeeks and travelers of a certain age.
“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, listen to this: The company confirms it’s in talks to open Pan Am airport lounges at three “prominent airports” in the U.S.
Carter said details are scarce, but the initial vision calls for a pay-to-enter space where you can grab some food, drinks, and have space to relax before your flight.
“It’s not like a Delta [Sky Club] “The lounge,” he explained. “They’ll have food, drinks, things like that when you walk in, but this place will be open to the public; this place will have all the Pan Am nostalgia, the seating… the look and feel.”
No, we’re not going back to the Golden Age of Aviation. And it certainly won’t be the same Pan Am.
But for aviation enthusiasts who still remember the brand, there are still a few reminders of its heritage.
“For us, we believe that the iconic blue meatball is something that people still love to see,” Carter said. “It still has a certain amount of value, even today, and even among the younger generation.”
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