This summer, the iconic Pan American Airways brand makes its return, thanks to a newly established tour operator eager to introduce the historic Pan Am experience to modern-day travelers.
Beyond Capricorn, co-founded by private jet expert Gary Bartelings and industry veteran Steve Ridgway of Criterion Travel, is launching a 12-day private-jet itinerary that commenced this week from New York JFK. This unique travel venture marks a significant revival of the Pan Am brand, which was originally founded in 1927 but ceased operations in 1991.
Through a licensing agreement with Pan American World Airways, which maintains rights to the Pan Am name and logo, Beyond Capricorn aims to “revive the glamour of travel’s golden age.” Their inaugural tour will allow 35 travelers to explore destinations along Pan Am’s original transatlantic routes, including Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London, and Foynes. Notably, the operator welcomes travel advisor bookings and offers a 10% commission.
Craig Carter, CEO of Pan American World Airways, emphasized the enthusiastic response from the travel community, stating, “This itinerary, created by our partners at Bartelings and Criterion Travel, continues to garner great interest from the travel advisor community. Designed to honor the unmatched legacy of Pan Am, the private jet journey will be a memorable experience for their most discerning clients.”
Gary Bartelings of Bartelings, a private jet specialist, co-founded Beyond Capricorn, a new tour operator that will operate Pan Am itineraries. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Beyond Capricorn
Steve Ridgway of Criterion Travel cofounded Beyond Capricorn, which will operate Pan Am-branded private jet journeys. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Beyond Capricorn
Beyond Capricorn was conceptualized out of a mutual nostalgia for the golden years of Pan Am travel. Bartelings shared, “It’s a brand that we came up with around ‘beyond Capricorn,’ the idea being, it’s over the horizon, it’s opening your eyes and traveling the world.” This concept serves as a solid foundation for promoting the legendary airline’s brand in a contemporary context.
Discover the Pan Am Experience
Travelers on this exclusive itinerary will embark on a Boeing 757 chartered from Icelandair, featuring business-class, lie-flat seating for a first-class experience. The tour expertly weaves vintage Pan Am elements into modern travel. Passengers will appreciate flight crews donned in classic Pan Am uniforms and receive their tickets presented in retro-branded sleeves.
The notion of operating a tour under the Pan Am banner was first explored before the pandemic, and discussions resumed in 2023. Bartelings and Ridgway had already established a collaboration through the chartering of planes for travel itineraries, enhancing their mutual understanding of the brand’s allure.
Ridgway noted, “When many of us began our careers in the travel industry, Pan Am stood as the premier airline. There is significant loyalty among former Pan Am employees, along with heightened awareness among those of us who remember them as the top airline, not just in the U.S. but globally. Interestingly, this nostalgia is also resonating with younger generations.”
Looking ahead, Beyond Capricorn plans to offer a holiday itinerary titled *Christmas Markets of Europe, a Pan Am Journey by Private Air* this December. This 10-day trip will explore vibrant Christmas markets in Portugal, Austria, Germany, and Latvia. Additionally, a *Tracing the Transpacific* journey is set for next year aboard a Boeing 767, with a remarkable 20-day itinerary priced at $94,495 starting April 11, originating in San Francisco. Stops will include Honolulu, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Darwin, Sydney, Auckland, and Fiji.
Future plans also include an around-the-world trip in 2027 to commemorate Pan Am’s 100th anniversary. This voyage will commence in San Francisco, making stops in Tahiti, Sydney, Bangkok, Delhi, Cairo, Casablanca, and concluding in Miami.
For more details on travel itineraries and bookings, visit Beyond Capricorn.
