An epic transatlantic flight inspired by the routes of the iconic airline Pan Am is to make its first stop in Bermuda next week.

The journey, starting from New York on Monday, will take place aboard a customised Boeing 757-200 taking in six destinations and accommodating just 50 passengers who will enjoy “lie-flat” seats and first-class service.

Tickets for the luxurious voyage, sold to US citizens, are in the region of $60,000 for the 12-day tour, with passengers lured with the promise of “reliving a golden age of travel”.

The “private air journey of the ages” is being organised by Bartelings Associates, a curator of travel experiences that has been operating tours by privately-chartered aircraft for clients from around the world for more than a decade.

It is in collaboration with Criterion Travel in an officially licensed partnership with Pan American World Airways.

Gary Bartelings, managing director of the Bartelings Associates based in Cyprus and Britain, said: “In 2019, while considering themes for tours, we discussed Pan Am, an iconic airline no longer flying but, as it turned out, with a significant worldwide following and fanbase. So, the idea was born.

“The pandemic stopped our plans and it was only in 2023 that we picked the idea up again and pitched it into our longtime partner Criterion Travel in the US. The rest, as they say, is history.”

The tour is called Tracing the Transatlantic and was inspired by the routes of Pan Am’s Flying Boats — the Boeing 314 Clipper produced by Boeing from 1938 to 1941. The routes predominantly operated prior and during WWII.

Mr Bartelings added: “Their Flying Boats operated a southern route, the first part of Tracing the Transatlantic, as well as a northern route which inspired the return journey of our tour.

“That is why Bermuda was chosen, we are not operating a replica route but one inspired by those routes and flights.”

During Bermuda’s tourism heyday, Pan Am was a regular among airlines serving the island.

The company enjoyed a unique relationship with Bermuda, with a Flying Boat calling on the island from New York for the first time in 1937, touching down and docking at the seaplane hangar at Darrell's Island.

Pan Am disbanded in 1991, shortly after the tragedy of its transatlantic Flight 103 in 1988.

The aircraft was destroyed by a bomb over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, in what remains the deadliest terrorist attack in British history.

The craft is scheduled to arrive at LF Wade International Airport next Tuesday and departs for Lisbon, Portugal, on Thursday.

Bermuda’s airport will be welcoming the vessel with a water canon salute.

Mr Bartelings said: “The crew, both cockpit and cabin, will be dressed in vintage Pan Am uniforms. The aircraft also has Pan Am branding including the distinctive Pan Am logo on the tail.”

After Lisbon, the flight will then make its way to Marseilles, France, on to London, Foynes in Ireland and back to New York on June 28.

While this flight is occupied only by US citizens, Mr Bartelings said there is a chance that Bermudians could board future planned voyages after hearing of the experience.