AvGeeks and anyone nostalgic for the travels of yesteryear will be excited to know that they can once again fly on a plane in the iconic Pan Am livery.
Tickets went on sale this week for a luxury safari to Africa operated by the new-age version of Pan American World Airways.
Pan Am, a fixture in the skies from its launch in 1927 until its collapse in 1991, helped define what many people consider the “golden age of aviation.” The airline pioneered routes through Latin America and the Pacific, and even operated the famous Boeing 314 Clipper aircraft, flying boats They were capable of landing on water. Pan Am also helped bring the Boeing 747 to market, making long-haul international travel much more accessible to the masses.
The experience aboard Pan Am is remembered for being luxurious and fun, complete with attentive staff and excellent food.
Related: Pan Am gets new life with planned airport lounges and luxury travel steeped in history
Decades have passed since Pan Am went bankrupt, and Delta Air Lines and United Airlines acquired many of its routes and assets.
But now, the Pan Am name is returning to the skies, albeit in a different form, after a The travel company acquired the name in recent years. with plans to revive the brand, if not the airline itself.
New life for the Pan Am brand
Pan Am Journeys, a series of ultra-luxury private jet tours, gives modern travelers the opportunity to climb aboard a Pan Am-branded aircraft again.
Last summer, TPG took a look at the retro plane with modern amenities.
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This month, the new-age Pan Am jet is “tracking the ocean liner” as part of its true maiden voyage.
And the company is already planning its next trip: “A trip to reimagine Africa.” Scheduled for 2027, the expedition features an African safari itinerary operated aboard Pan Am’s private Boeing 757-200, which offers lie-flat seats in business class.
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This trip is designed to recreate the glamor of the former airline’s illustrious experience in the skies. But it also includes true luxury on land, with high-end hotel stays and a curated itinerary operated in partnership with SafariScapes.
“Former crew members, aviation enthusiasts and travelers who remembered the golden age of travel, and those who longed to experience it, came together around a shared belief: that elegance, discovery and the journey itself still matter,” Craig Carter, CEO of Pan Am Global Holdings (the parent company of Pan American World Airways), said this week.
These itineraries are intended to highlight Pan Am’s historic routes and destinations.
The measure comes at a time when aviation nostalgia feels particularly strongtaking into account the recent closure of the low-cost company Spirit Airlines which, historians noteIt was the largest collapse of a major US airline since 1991, when Pan Am (and Eastern Air Lines) went bankrupt.
Read more: Spirit’s bright yellow planes are grounded forever: a sad end for the historic budget airline
In a nutshell
These all-inclusive trips are not cheap; For most travelers, flying Pan Am today will undoubtedly be more of a bucket list splurge than a practical travel option.
But for AvGeeks who have spent years reminiscing about Pan Am and collecting vintage memorabilia, the opportunity to board a Pan Am plane and experience a semblance of the old airline’s hospitality and atmosphere can be money well spent.
If you want to experience Pan Am’s legacy, you can book through your travel advisor, contact Pan Am Journeys directly at Journeys@panam.com or visit their website. All-inclusive rates start at $129,000 per person, based on double occupancy.
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