Nostalgia flooded LF Wade International Airport with the arrival of a Pan Am-inspired flight this week and one of the leading partners that organised the trip said Bermuda is on his mind for future aviation experiences.

Bartelings Associates, based in Cyprus and Britain, hosted the Tracing the Transatlantic tour in collaboration with Criterion Travel in the US in an officially-licensed partnership with Pan American World Airways.

The epic voyage, which will take in a total of six destinations inspired by the routes of the iconic airline’s Flying Boats — the Boeing 314 Clipper produced by Boeing from 1938 to 1941 — made its first stop in Bermuda to much fanfare.

Juan Trippe, Pan Am‘s principal, was also the principal owner of the Castle Harbour Hotel and golf resort through his company Bermuda Properties. The Trippe family initially developed the Tucker’s Point Hotel and Spa.

Kim Swan, Progressive Labour Party MP, said he was sponsored by Bermuda Properties when he played the PGA European tour in the 80s and had a close connection with the organisation.

He said: “It was in fact Pan Am that initiated the early departure flight from Bermuda to New York with a special one day $99 round-trip special package for Bermuda and choose to go to New York for the day.”

Mr Bartelings said he learnt that after the Flying Boats, the very first jet operation from Pan Am came to Bermuda first.

Representatives from the Bermuda Tourism Authority interacted with crew and documented the visit, while Skyport welcomed the aircraft on Tuesday with water canons.

The flight also captured the imagination of international media, with Bloomberg and CBS included in organisations that produced reports.

Gary Bartelings, the managing director of Bartelings Associates, told The Royal Gazette: “Bermuda is well linked with the Pan Am brand so I can see us doing other things in the future.

“It could be the same partners coming together again — we are a B2B operator and work with a number of American companies on their touring programmes by private aircraft.

“I think that Bermuda can offer a lot to an itinerary so I would like to come back.

“From another point of view, I think Bermuda could be good for either a regional tour including the Caribbean and South America or could even be included as part of a round-the-world trip.

“I see lots of opportunity for us. I was here in October for an inspection trip, I love coming here. It is friendly and it’s quirky.

“For a lot of people, they probably don’t know enough about Bermuda. It is maybe not on their radar and that makes it special.”

The flight departed for Lisbon, Portugal, yesterday and will then make its way to Marseilles, France, on to London, Foynes in Ireland and back to New York — where its journey began on Monday — on June 28.

There are 35 passengers on board and the flight crew dress in vintage Pan Am uniforms.

Guests and crew stayed at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

Some visited Verdmont House, some took to the water and all enjoyed dining at Rosewood Bermuda’s Island Brasserie restaurant, where the walls are adorned with murals of Pan Am destinations.

Linda Freire, the cofounder and chairwoman of The Pan Am Museum in New York, was a flight attendant for the original Pan Am airline right up to the day it ceased operations in 1991.

Ms Freire, who was aboard the Tracing the Transatlantic flight, said: “I flew with Pan Am until the last day.

“I was the base director at JFK [International Airport] for in-flight services so I had the dubious task of putting the keys in the door for the last time and locking it — it was a very sad day.

“Pan Am has always been my home, it is my family.

“Bermuda was one of our frequent spots and my husband and I came here with our children also. We got the mopeds and drove around the island.

“It resonates so deep in my heart. It brings back so many wonderful memories because we were a family. We had so much fun together. We had great times and stuck together.”

Aaron Adderley, Skyport’s president, said LF Wade International Airport was proud to serve as the first stop on a journey that paid tribute to “one of aviation’s most iconic eras”.

He added: “Bermuda’s ties to Pan Am stretch back to the golden age of air travel and this historic stopover reminds us of the island’s strategic importance and enduring allure in global aviation.

“As we continue to modernise our airport for today’s traveller, moments like this cause us to pause and appreciate the timeless story of our island’s role in the legacy of this great airline, from the flying clippers at Darrell’s Island to the 747’s at Kindley Field.”

Erin Wright, the acting chief executive of the BTA, added: “We are delighted that Bermuda was selected as the very first stop on this historic journey — a destination that has long shared a rich aviation legacy with Pan Am and continues to offer the authentic, world-class hospitality that today’s discerning travellers seek.”