Panama Stopover reaches record: 95,000 passengers and an 18.5% increase in the first half of 2025

Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, SA and a member of the global Star Alliance network, presented the results of the Panama Stopover program, developed in conjunction with the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) and PROMTUR Panama, for the first half of 2025. At the end of June, the airline registered nearly 95,000 stopover passengers, representing an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. The Panama Stopover program allows passengers transiting through Panama to take advantage of their stopover to enjoy tourism in our country at no additional cost to their airfare.

"The connectivity provided by the Hub of the Americas® is a strategic advantage for Panama, boosting tourism, stimulating the economy, and generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. At Copa Airlines, we work hand in hand with stakeholders in the tourism sector to position Panama as an attractive and accessible destination for international travelers. The results obtained in the first half of 2025 reflect the efforts of a team that proudly carries our Panamanian flag to the highest skies of the continent," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines.

The average stay booked per passenger was three days. Likewise, the Panama Canal continues to be the main attraction for those who make a stopover in the city; however, they also highlight the local cuisine, shopping, and cultural diversity among their favorite activities.

Additionally, Copa Airlines' Panama Stopover program kicked off the second half of the year with record numbers, registering more than 17,500 passengers with Stopover in July, making it the program's record-breaking month since its launch in 2019. This result reflects travelers' growing interest in discovering what Panama has to offer.

With the support of more than 80 partners in the Panamanian tourism sector and a revamped digital platform, Panama Stopover projects to exceed 185,000 visitors by the end of 2024.

Since its launch in 2019, the Panama Stopover program has brought more than 640,000 tourists to the country. By the end of 2024, more than 160,000 tourists took advantage of this initiative to make a stopover in the country at no additional cost to their airfare, a 25% increase compared to 2023, already representing 8% of the total number of visitors to the country.

The Panama Stopover program allows passengers transiting through the Hub of the Americas® in Panama on Copa Airlines flights to enjoy two destinations for the price of one. Travelers can extend their stay in Panama at no additional cost to their airfare, taking advantage of their connection to explore the country's many attractions. This initiative is designed to encourage tourism, utilizing the country's strategic position as the main hub in the region.

Source: Copa Airlines.