Copa Airlines' Panama Stopover program sees 18% growth and aims for a record year
The initiative, developed with PROMTUR and the ATP, attracted nearly 95,000 passengers in the first half of 2025, consolidating the Hub of the Americas as a tourism driver.
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Copa Airlines (NYSE: CPA), in collaboration with the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) and PROMTUR Panama, has presented the results for its Panama Stopover program for the first half of 2025. The Star Alliance member airline reported that nearly 95,000 passengers utilized this facility, an 18% increase compared to the same period last year.
The initiative allows passengers transiting through the Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to extend their connection in Panama for several days at no additional airfare cost. This strategy aims to capitalize on Copa Airlines' extensive route network to boost local tourism and the economy.
July 2025 set an unprecedented record for the program, with over 17,500 passengers opting for a Stopover, the highest monthly figure since the initiative's launch in 2019. This data reflects an accelerating interest from international travelers in discovering the country's attractions.
Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, stated that "the connectivity provided by the Hub of the Americas® is a strategic advantage for Panama, which drives tourism, energizes the economy, and generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs." He added that the results from the first semester reflect the joint effort with tourism sector stakeholders to position Panama as an attractive destination.
Panama Stopover by the Numbers
What is the Panama Stopover program? It's a facility that allows connecting Copa Airlines passengers to make a stop in Panama for up to seven nights at no extra airfare cost.
How many passengers used it in 2024? Over 160,000 tourists, which accounted for 8% of the total visitors to the country.
What is the average stay? Data shows that travelers book an average stay of three days.
What do tourists visit? The Panama Canal remains the main attraction, followed by the local gastronomic offer, shopping centers, and the country's cultural diversity.
Since its creation in 2019, the Panama Stopover program has facilitated the arrival of more than 640,000 tourists. By the end of 2024, the initiative had already shown 25% growth compared to 2023, according to official figures.
With the support of more than 80 allied companies from the Panamanian tourism sector and a renewed digital platform, projections for the end of 2025 aim to exceed 185,000 visitors through this program. The business model of the Hub of the Americas, which connects over 80 destinations across the continent, provides the foundation that enables the operation and scalability of this tourism promotion tool.
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