Pan Am Returns with Glamorous 2025 Transatlantic Adventure

Pan Am, the popular airline of the so-called ‘golden age’ of air travel, will return to the skies in 2025 under the stewardship of U.S.-based travel firm Criterion Travel for a special six-stop tour flight across the Atlantic and back.

The historic airline, Pan American World Airways, operated its first flight in 1927 and became the dominant international carrier in the United States before declaring bankruptcy and ceasing operations in 1991. During its reign, Pan Am was a driving force of the golden age of air travel, and spacious cabins, gourmet meals, and fashionable flight attendants characterized its flights.

Photo: Courtesy of Jon Proctor

Pan Am wasn’t all about luxury; however, it was the first airline to introduce economy class fares in 1945, helping to bring commercial air travel to the masses. It was also the first airline to operate a commercial transatlantic flight from New York to Marseille in 1939. Numerous references in pop culture mean the Pan Am brand remains well-known to this day.

Now, older travelers hoping to relive the excitement of flying in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as younger generations that want to get their first taste of flying on the iconic airline, can look forward to a one-off, 12-day pit-stop tour of Pan Am’s original hub destinations with the launch of Criterion’s special flight next year.

However, it will come at a significant cost, starting at an eye-watering $59,950 per person on a double booking or $65,500 for solo travelers. This cost not only covers the flights but also accommodation and most meals and drinks during the two-week adventure, as well as an exclusive branded swag bag.

Photo: Courtesy of Abercrombie & Kent

Flights will be operated with a Boeing 757 aircraft and will include 50 business class seats with lie-flat capabilities and an open bar for socializing.

The Tour: Details

Criterion Travel, an exclusive tour operator based in Oregon, is operating the tour in collaboration with charter aircraft specialists Bartelings Associates as part of a partnership with Pan Am Brands, the company that owns the branding rights of the now-defunct airline.

Beginning on June 27, 2025, guests will convene at the iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City before jetting off on the first leg of the trip to Bermuda, a common stopping and refueling point for early Pan Am flights. Here, travelers can bask in the sunshine on pink sand beaches and stay at the luxurious Rosewood Hotel.

Photo: Bermuda. Courtesy of Kino on Unsplash

From there, travelers will continue across the Atlantic to Lisbon, where guests can soak up the culture and history of the Portuguese capital, including a planned evening of traditional fado music. The tour will then move on to Marseille, the destination of Pan Am’s first transatlantic flight, for a taste of southern French culture and Provençal cuisine.

After Marseille, the Pan Am tour will visit London, one of Pan Am’s most important European hubs during its heyday. Here, guests will stay at the world-famous five-star hotel, The Savoy, while they can also partake in a planned July 4 celebration.

Tower Bridge in London / Photo: Marek Masik/Shutterstock

The final stop on the tour will be Foynes on the west coast of Ireland, another regular stopping point for early Pan Am flights, where guests will stay at the stunning Dromoland Castle Hotel nearby. Finally, the special Pan Am tour will return to New York on July 8.

“Since 1927, Pan Am has left an indelible mark on the world,” said Craig Carter, the new CEO of Pan American World Airways LLC and the host for next year’s trip. “From humble beginnings as the first commercial carrier for the U.S. Air Mail, Pan Am’s founder Juan T. Trippe went on to create a vast aviation empire across the globe, bringing the world closer together one flight at a time.

“Relaunching Pan Am requires a careful balance of honoring its storied past while innovating for the future so that it resonates with both our longtime fans and new customers.”