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It was old world glamour at Shannon today as the crew of the first Pan Am – branded jet to take off from the airport in over 30 years travelled in vintage style uniforms through Departures before jetting to New York’s JFK. The flight marked the finale of the nostalgic “Tracing the Transatlantic” journey, a 12-day, all-business class experience retracing historic Pan Am routes. Organised by Bartelings in collaboration with Criterion Travel and under official Pan Am licence, the voyage celebrated the golden age of aviation, with Shannon Airport —long intertwined with Pan Am’s pioneering legacy—serving as the final stop after visits to Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille and London. Pictured are Cabin crew Rakel Ásgeirsdóttir and Anna María Ævarsdóttir prior to boarding the Pan American Boeing 757-200, known as Yankee Clipper 11 at Shannon Airport today. Pic Arthur Ellis It was old world glamour at Shannon today as the crew of the first Pan Am – branded jet to take off from the airport in over 30 years travelled in vintage style uniforms through Departures before jetting to New York’s JFK. The flight marked the finale of the nostalgic “Tracing the Transatlantic” journey, a 12-day, all-business class experience retracing historic Pan Am routes. Organised by Bartelings in collaboration with Criterion Travel and under official Pan Am licence, the voyage celebrated the golden age of aviation, with Shannon Airport —long intertwined with Pan Am’s pioneering legacy—serving as the final stop after visits to Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille and London. Pictured are Cabin crew Rakel Ásgeirsdóttir and Anna María Ævarsdóttir prior to boarding the Pan American Boeing 757-200, known as Yankee Clipper 11 at Shannon Airport today. Pic Arthur Ellis

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First Pan Am Branded Jet in Over 30 Years Departs Shannon Airport

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Pictured are Cabin crew Rakel Ásgeirsdóttir and Anna María Ævarsdóttir prior to boarding the Pan American Boeing 757-200, known as Yankee Clipper 11 at Shannon Airport. Pic Arthur Ellis

Shannon Airport marked a special moment linked to its aviation past as the Pan Am World Airways Yankee Clipper II, departed its runway on Friday, June 27

First Pan Am Branded Jet in Over 30 Years Departs Shannon Airport
Steinar Bragason – Lead Commander, Jóhann Kristján Hjaltason – First Officer, Dísa Lind Tómasdóttir – Senior Cabin Crew, Steinunn Steinþórsdóttir – Cabin Crew, Anna María Ævarsdóttir – Cabin Crew, Rut Árnadóttir- Cabin Crew and Rakel Ásgeirsdóttir – Cabin Crew prior to boarding the Pan American Boeing 757-200, known as Yankee Clipper 11 at Shannon Airport today. Pic Arthur Ellis

Shannon Airport marked a special moment linked to its aviation past on Friday, June 27, 2025 as a Pan American World Airways-branded jet, known as the Yankee Clipper II, departed its runway for the first time in more than three decades.

The flight, bound for JFK International Airport in New York, marked the conclusion of “Tracing the Transatlantic” — a nostalgic 12-day journey celebrating the legendary legacy of Pan Am.

Designed to revive the glamour of the “Golden Age of Travel,” the all-business class experience treated its 50 passengers to a carefully curated itinerary along Pan Am’s historic transatlantic routes.  


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Before boarding their return flight today, passengers enjoyed a farewell Irish coffee reception at Shannon Airport — a fitting gesture of local hospitality to finish their nostalgic voyage. Onboard, flight attendants wore authentic recreations of classic Pan Am uniforms, adding to the retro allure of the journey.

Shannon Airport has long been interwoven with Pan Am’s pioneering spirit. In September 1945, a Pan Am DC-4 completed the first transatlantic proving flight into Shannon, paving the way for the first scheduled transatlantic commercial passenger flight just one month later. This October marks the 80th anniversary of that historic milestone. Another landmark moment came in August 1970, when Shannon welcomed its first scheduled jumbo jet — a Pan Am Boeing 747 carrying over 300 passengers.

Speaking at Shannon Airport, Pamela Brooks, Head of Operations, said, “It’s been a pleasure to welcome this commemorative Pan Am aircraft to Shannon this week. Pan Am holds an iconic place in aviation history, and while the livery certainly evokes a sense of nostalgia, having it back on the runway here after more than three decades also highlights Shannon Airport’s own enduring role in transatlantic travel.”

The “Tracing the Transatlantic” experience was created by Bartelings in collaboration with Criterion Travel, under official license from Pan American World Airways and visited Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London, and Shannon. After their arrival at Shannon on Wednesday, guests enjoyed a luxurious two-night stay at Adare Manor, and a special gala dinner in Foynes Flying Boat Museum before their departure from Shannon Airport on Friday.

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