Pan American World Airways, also known as Pan Am, has made a lasting impact on the history of aviation. On Tuesday, a special opportunity arose for history to repeat itself.

For over six decades, Pan Am revolutionized air travel for its passengers. To honor this legendary airline, a commemorative flight departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport on a 12-day journey, retracing the iconic Southern and Northern Trans-Atlantic routes with stops in Bermuda and various European destinations.

The private charter jet, adorned with Pan Am logos, offers a luxurious and nostalgic experience for its passengers, with 5-star accommodations included in the $60,000 per person cost. Organizers are also planning a 21-day trip called “Tracing the Trans-Pacific” at a cost of $95,000 per person.

To make the experience as authentic as possible, flight attendants are dressed in replicas of the original Pan Am uniforms, representing different eras of the airline’s history. “It’s such an honor and a privilege to be stepping into this uniform,” said flight attendant Anna Maria Aevarsdottir. “We hope we can embrace the grace that they showed America.

For Anita Mathewson, a former Pan Am flight attendant, this trip is a chance to relive the glory days of her career, this time as a passenger with her two daughters. “It was a wonderful time in my life. Pan Am was beautiful,” she said.

Linda Freire, chair of the Pan Am Museum, reflects on the airline’s legacy, saying, “Pan Am was about the airline, but it was more about the people. It was the people and the experiences.

For one family, the trip holds special meaning. Sheryl Slyter and Louise Koch’s father was one of the many pilots who contributed to Pan Am’s success. “When we were kids, he always brought back stuff from different countries that he visited,” Koch shared. Now, they have the opportunity to visit those same places their father flew to and from, as passengers on this commemorative flight. “Knowing he was with the flying boats and all the places we are going, that he flew into,” Slyter said.

John Dias, a three-time Emmy Award-winning reporter for CBS News New York, describes the event as a full-circle moment for the family and all those involved with Pan Am. His engaging storytelling and commitment to delivering impactful news coverage has made him a trusted source for news.