As aviation continues to pick up in many countries, we see more pre-pandemic policies and services returning. The latest to come from Copa Airlines is a resumption of its Stopover in Panama campaign. From August 16th, travelers can once again book a free stopover in Panama City on most international routes with Copa Airlines.

Return of the Stopover in Panama program

From August 16th, Copa Airlines has relaunched its Stopover in Panama program for all travelers. This was a popular scheme before the pandemic, allowing passengers transiting Copa’s hub to add a stopover of up to a week in either direction.

Stopovers can be added for no additional cost to any international journey transiting Tocumen International Airport. The Copa website should allow this to be added when booking, or it can be booked by travel agents.

The resumption comes as the entry requirements to Panama loosen. International travel is clearly still challenging in many ways, and requirements can change at short notice. Entry to Panama is now possible from all countries. Travelers from low-risk countries and vaccinated travelers from high-risk countries (including the UK and Brazil) only need to show a negative PCR or antigen test for entry.

Promoting tourism in Panama

The program is run in conjunction with PROMTUR – the agency responsible for promoting Panama internationally and part of the Tourism Authority of Panama. It is a win-win situation for both sides – hopefully increasing sales for Copa and boosting domestic tourism.

Explaining Copa’s participation in the scene, Dennis Cary, Copa Airlines Sr. Commercial Vice President, said:

“The Panama Stopover program is a sign of our commitment to showcasing Panama’s unique tourist attractions and diverse cultural heritage for travelers who fly through the Tocumen International Airport. The Hub of the Americas®️ offers extensive connectivity to the rest of the continent and, thanks to the effort of the authorities and the tourism sector, Panama is ready to welcome travelers interested in experiencing all the wonders the country has to offer.”

And Fernando Fondevila, PROMTUR´s CEO added:

“No matter the time of year, there is a reason to visit our destination and share experiences with our people. This partnership presents travelers with an easy option to add Panama to their upcoming trip.”

Improving situation for Copa Airlines

Like many airlines, Copa has suffered during the pandemic. Panama was one of the first countries in Latin America to close its borders in 2020, and with it, Copa Airlines suspended flights. These resumed much later in the year after being delayed several times. As a primarily international airline, recovery has been slow – and losses big.

But in the third quarter this year, the situation is looking better. Earlier in August, the airline reported a net profit for the second quarter (the only other operators in Latin America to do so far are Volaris and Viva Aerobus in Mexico). It is also expanding its Dream Business Class and Economy Extra on the 737 MAX 9 to more routes in 2021.