Copa Airlines Launches Direct San Diego-Panama Flights Enhancing Latin America Connectivity

Copa Airlines has launched a new nonstop flight route connecting San Diego International Airport with Panama City, Panama, operating four times a week and marking a significant expansion of connectivity between Southern California and Latin America. This new service enables travelers from San Diego to access nearly 50 destinations across Latin America and beyond through Copa's Hub of the Americas, enhancing opportunities for business, leisure, and academic travel. Copa's CEO Pedro Heilbron emphasized the route's strategic importance in strengthening ties between the West Coast of the United States and Latin America, while San Diego officials highlighted the cultural and economic benefits, noting the city's historical connections with Latin America. The flights are operated using Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, with Copa now serving three Californian airports and offering increased capacity and frequency in its network. While the early arrival time in Panama poses some challenges for connecting flights, the new route is expected to boost tourism and commercial exchange, reinforcing Copa's role as a key bridge within the Americas. This development reflects San Diego's first direct service to Central America and represents Copa's continued growth in the US market.