This summer, the legendary Pan American Airways brand is soaring once more, revived by a newly established tour operator eager to introduce the Pan Am experience to a new generation of travelers.
Beyond Capricorn, co-founded by Gary Bartelings of private jet specialist Bartelings and Steve Ridgway of tour operator Criterion Travel, has launched a 12-day private-jet itinerary featuring the Pan Am brand. The inaugural flight took off from New York JFK on Tuesday.
Founded in 1927 and operational until 1991, Pan Am has collaborated with Beyond Capricorn through a licensing deal that allows the use of its iconic brand name and logo. The goal is to “revive the glamour of travel’s golden age,” a sentiment echoed throughout the industry.
Gary Barteling, co-founder of Beyond Capricorn. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Beyond Capricorn
During the tour, 35 passengers will experience destinations along Pan Am’s original transatlantic routes, including iconic locales such as Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London, and Foynes. Travel advisors can book the journey and receive a 10% commission.
Craig Carter, CEO of Pan American World Airways, emphasized the appeal: “This itinerary, created by our partners, continues to generate substantial interest among the travel advisor community. This private jet journey is designed to honor the unmatched legacy of Pan Am and promises to be a memorable experience for discerning clients.”
Steve Ridgway, co-founder of Beyond Capricorn. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Beyond Capricorn
Beyond Capricorn emerged from a shared enthusiasm for the “glory days” of Pan Am, with Bartelings stating, “The concept of ‘beyond Capricorn’ symbolizes traveling the world and opening your eyes to new horizons. This idea served as a solid foundation to promote the Pan Am brand.”
The Pan Am Experience
Travelers will ride aboard a Boeing 757 chartered from Icelandair, complete with business-class, lie-flat seating. Beyond Capricorn integrates classic Pan Am elements with modern conveniences; passengers can expect flight crew members in authentic Pan Am uniforms and tickets presented in vintage-branded sleeves.
The concept for operations under the Pan Am name first surfaced before the pandemic and was revisited in 2023 as Bartelings and Ridgway strengthened their collaboration through previous chartering ventures. “In my early days in the travel industry, Pan Am was the gold standard in aviation. There remains a deep loyalty among former Pan Am employees, coupled with widespread interest from those who remember them as a top-tier airline,” Ridgway stated. “Interestingly, we are also seeing this nostalgia resonating with younger travelers.”
Beyond Capricorn plans additional itineraries, including a festive holiday journey, “Christmas Markets of Europe: A Pan Am Journey by Private Air,” set for December. This 10-day trip will explore Christmas markets in Portugal, Austria, Germany, and Latvia.
Next year, the operator will launch a “Tracing the Transpacific” flight featuring a Boeing 767. This 20-day journey, priced at $94,495, will commence on April 11 in San Francisco, stopping in Honolulu, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Darwin, Sydney, Auckland, and Fiji.
Looking ahead, Beyond Capricorn is also planning a round-the-world trip for 2027 to celebrate Pan Am’s centennial, beginning in San Francisco and visiting Tahiti, Sydney, Bangkok, Delhi, Cairo, Casablanca, and concluding in Miami.
