24 Hours, 2 Routes: Copa Airlines' strategic blitz on Northern Argentina
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Copa Airlines significantly expanded its presence in Northern Argentina by launching two international routes in less than 24 hours. The airline resumed its service to Salta (SLA) after a five-year hiatus and inaugurated a brand-new route to Tucumán (TUC), marking its sixth destination in the country.
The expansion began with the arrival of flight CM732 at Salta's Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport at 0:15 on Wednesday, September 24. The Boeing 737-800, registration HP-1829CMP, marked the official return of Copa to the province. The route had been suspended in March 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. With this restart, Salta reconnects directly to the Hub of the Americas in Panama.
Just a day later, at 0:44 on Thursday, flight CM745 landed at Tucumán's Teniente Benjamín Matienzo International Airport. The arrival of the Boeing 737-800, registration HP-1825CMP, was celebrated with a traditional water cannon salute. Unlike the Salta service, the Tucumán route is a completely new addition to Copa's network, providing a crucial international gateway for the region.
Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, stated that "with the inauguration of Tucumán and the reactivation of Salta, we continue to strengthen the air connectivity of northern Argentina with the rest of the continent. This expansion represents an opportunity to further promote tourism, trade, and economic development between these countries."
Heilbron also highlighted the "Panama Stopover" program, which allows passengers "to enjoy the wonders of Panama" with a stop in the country at no additional airfare cost. This dual launch underscores Copa Airlines' clear strategy to capture the potential of Northwestern Argentina, serving both leisure and business travel markets.
Argentina is a key market for Copa Airlines, and Heilbron himself has praised its travelers many times, saying, “They're wonderful, because they are among the most frequent travelers out there.”
FAQ: Key Questions about Copa's New Routes
- Why are these routes important for the region? They provide Argentina's northwest region with a direct connection to the Hub of the Americas in Panama, eliminating the need to fly through Buenos Aires to reach destinations in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This optimizes travel times and costs.
- How many weekly flights will operate on these routes? Copa Airlines will operate three weekly flights for both the Panama-Tucumán and Panama-Salta routes.
- What is Copa Airlines' full network in Argentina? With these additions, Copa Airlines now serves six cities in Argentina: Buenos Aires (EZE), Córdoba (COR), Mendoza (MDZ), Rosario (ROS), Salta (SLA), and Tucumán (TUC), operating around 90 weekly flights.
- What aircraft is used on these routes? Both routes are operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which have a capacity for 160 passengers—16 in Business Class and 144 in the main cabin.
Flight schedules and operations
The flight schedules are designed to provide efficient connections through Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama.
Panama (PTY) – Salta (SLA):
- CM732: Departs PTY on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 16:40, arriving in SLA at 0:24 the next day (local time).
- CM733: Departs SLA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 2:01, arriving in PTY at 5:30 (local time).
Panama (PTY) – Tucumán (TUC):
- CM745: Departs PTY on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 16:35, arriving in TUC at 0:34 the next day (local time).
- CM746: Departs TUC on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 1:50, arriving in PTY at 5:35 (local time).
In both markets, Copa Airlines will face competition from LATAM Airlines, which funnels international traffic through its hub at Lima Airport, in Peru. LATAM currently operates five weekly flights from Salta, and in December, it will launch services to Tucumán with three weekly flights.
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