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Copa Airlines
Copa airlines logo.svg
Founded 21 June 1944; 80 years ago (1944-06-21)
Commenced operations 15 August 1947; 77 years ago (1947-08-15)
AOC # DCIF003F
Hubs Panama City–Tocumen
Focus cities San José (CR)
Frequent-flyer program ConnectMiles
Alliance Star Alliance
Subsidiaries Wingo
Copa Airlines Colombia
Fleet size 98
Destinations 82
Parent company Copa Holdings
Headquarters Panama City, Panama
Key people Pedro Heilbron (CEO)
Revenue Increase US$2.678 billion (FY 2018)
Operating income Decrease US$145.0 million (FY 2018)
Net income Decrease US$88.1 million (FY 2018)
Employees 9,450 (2018)
Aircraft at Tocumen International Airport 01
Copa Airlines aircraft aligned at Tocumen International Airport, the airline's primary hub.

Compañía Panameña de Aviación, S.A., (commonly referred to as Copa and branded simply as "Copa Airlines") is the flag carrier of Panama. It is headquartered in Panama City, Panama, with its main hub at Tocumen International Airport. Copa is a subsidiary of Copa Holdings and a member of the Star Alliance. The airline is also the main operator and owner of Colombian airline AeroRepública, currently known as Wingo, previously known as Copa Airlines Colombia.

Copa was founded in 1947 and it began domestic operations to three cities in Panama shortly afterwards. The airline then abandoned its domestic flight in 1980, in favor of international flights. In 1998, Copa formed a partnership with Continental Airlines, adopting a similar brand image and using the airline's OnePass frequent flyer program.

History

Inauguration

The airline was established as Compañía Panameña de Aviación (hence the acronym COPA) on June 21, 1944, and started operations on August 15, 1947. It was founded by a group of prominent Panamanian investors with assistance from Pan American World Airways, who took a 32% stake. It began operating domestic flights with a small fleet of Douglas DC-3 aircraft. The airline started its first international flights in the early 1970s, with services to cities in Jamaica, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Turboprop aircraft operated by Copa included the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and Lockheed L-188 Electra.

Until the early 1980s, the airline had significant competition from Air Panamá Internacional, which had a higher profile. Copa discontinued domestic flights in 1980 and acquired its first jet, a Boeing 737-100. Today the airline operates flights to a number of destinations in the U.S. and Canada including Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Baltimore (BWI), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Montreal (YUL), New York City (JFK), Orlando (MCO), San Francisco (SFO), Tampa (TPA), Toronto (YYZ), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) as well as to other destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America. As of 2022, the airline has an all-Boeing 737 fleet.

Expansion years

COPA Panama Lockheed L-188 Electra Volpati-1
A Copa Airlines Lockheed L-188 Electra at La Aurora International Airport in 1980

Expansion continued during the 1990s, when it began service to Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; Bogotá, Colombia; Havana, Cuba; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Lima, Peru; Mexico City, Mexico; Caracas, Venezuela; and many other important Latin American cities.

In 1992 Copa Airlines signed a strategic alliance with TACA Airlines (now Avianca El Salvador), and the airline began flying from Tocumen International Airport, making it the first flight connection center in Latin America. As a result, Tocumen was dubbed as the “Hub of the Americas” and several Latin American airlines such as LACSA of Costa Rica, Aviateca of Guatemala, and NICA of Nicaragua joined the alliance. The alliance ended in 1998 when the six-year agreement expired.

In 1998 Continental Airlines acquired 49% of the airline, marking the beginning of a comprehensive marketing and operating alliance. On May 19, 1999, Continental increased its stake to 51%. Since then, Copa has adopted a livery and corporate logo similar to Continental's (now United). Copa participated in the OnePass frequent flyer program until Continental's merger with United Airlines. In connection with the initial public offering in December 2005, Continental reduced its stake to approximately 27.3% and through a follow-on offering in 2006, further reduced it to approximately 10%.

Boeing 737-8V3(w) 'HP-1822CMP' Copa Airlines (14065437847)
Since 1980, the Boeing 737 has been a backbone for the medium-long haul expansion of Copa Airlines. Pictured; a Boeing 737-800 at LAX.

In 2000, Copa Airlines inaugurated service to Los Angeles, Cancún, and Orlando, as well as to São Paulo; in 2001, it began service to Quito, Ecuador. In 2004, it began service to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Copa also announced in August of that year a codeshare agreement with Mexico's Mexicana de Aviación, which lasted until 2007.

On June 1, 2005, Copa Airlines acquired 90% of the Colombian domestic air carrier AeroRepública, having earlier announced a codeshare plan with the carrier. Copa rebranded AeroRepública to Copa Airlines Colombia in 2010, increased destinations and modernized the fleet. On December 15, 2005, parent company Copa Holdings, S.A., launched an IPO of 14 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange thus becoming the fourth Latin American airline to be traded on the exchange, after LAN Airlines of Chile and Brazilian carriers Gol Transportes Aéreos and TAM Airlines.

In 2006, Copa Airlines began service to six new destinations: Manaus, Brazil; Maracaibo, Venezuela; Montevideo, Uruguay; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; and Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. In addition, Copa Airlines took delivery of six Embraer 190s and two Boeing 737s. In 2007, Copa Airlines added services to Córdoba, Argentina; Guadalajara, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Washington, D.C. Copa Airlines added four Embraer 190s and two Boeing 737s (-800 series). That same year, the airline joined the SkyTeam alliance as an associate member.

HP-1557CMP (6908959484)
Embraer 190, mainly deployed for regional flights across Central America and Colombia

During 2008, Copa Airlines added five new destinations and received four Embraer 190s and one Boeing 737-800. The new destinations are Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Valencia, Venezuela; Oranjestad, Aruba; and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. In May 2008, Continental Airlines sold its remaining 4.38 million shares of Copa Airlines for $35.75 a share, yielding a net profit of approximately $149.8 million.

That same year, Copa Airlines' CEO Pedro Heilbron announced on the ALTA airline leaders forum in Cancún that the airline had decided to leave SkyTeam and were in exclusive talks with Star Alliance.

In 2009, Copa Airlines announced it would withdraw from SkyTeam on October 24, the same date that partner Continental Airlines left the alliance. The company added two Boeing 737-800s. and announced a firm order for 13 Boeing 737-800s with the new Boeing signature "Sky Interior".

In 2010, Copa Airlines began service to St. Maarten, received nine Boeing 737-800s and announced that it would join Star Alliance in mid-2012 to rejoin old partner Continental Airlines (now United). That same year, Copa Airlines announced a firm order to purchase 32 Boeing 737-800 planes valued at $1.7 billion, thus becoming the largest plane order in the airline's history. The Boeing 737-800 are set for delivery between 2015 and 2018, with an option to acquire ten additional 737-800 aircraft.

In 2011, Copa Airlines began service to Toronto; Brasilia and Porto Alegre, Brazil; Chicago; Cúcuta, Colombia; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Monterrey, Mexico and Asunción, Paraguay; and Nassau, The Bahamas. It also passed from a four bank hub to a six bank hub and increased frequencies to several destinations.

Boeing 737-86N, Copa Airlines JP7547800
In June 2012, Copa Airlines became one of the first Latin American airlines to enter Star Alliance.

That same year, Copa Airlines launched a mobile version of its website (), giving passengers the chance to get a mobile pass and check flight status and other services. Additionally, the airline announced a new codeshare agreement with TAME, which became effective in January 2012. Copa Airlines also became the first airline in Latin America to have the new Boeing 737-800NG Sky Interior with improved performance in its fleet.

In 2012, the company announced five new destinations: Las Vegas, United States; Recife, Brazil; Willemstad, Curaçao; Liberia, Costa Rica; and Iquitos, Peru. In June of the same year, Copa Airlines became an official member of Star Alliance along with AviancaTaca.

Copa also increased flight frequencies to several destinations and inaugurated an interline agreement with Air Panama (Panama's second-largest airline) which consists of the linkage of all tourist destinations in Panama with those in Latin America. The agreement became effective June 1, 2012, when Air Panama began flights from Tocumen airport to Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro.

In 2013, Copa increased the frequency to several destinations and included two new destinations in the United States: Boston and Tampa.

Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) announced on 10 October 2013, that Copa Airlines placed an order to retrofit some of its existing Boeing Next Generation 737s' blended winglets with APB's new split scimitar winglets, as part of its environmental strategy. The new APB winglet technology will save Copa more than $21 million in jet fuel costs fleetwide and more than 63,000 tons of carbon dioxide CO2 outputs per year.

In January 2014, Copa Airlines announced three new destinations and revealed its business strategy for the year, which included the delivery of eight new Boeing 737-800 aircraft and the increase of flight frequencies to some destinations. The new destinations are Montreal, Canada; Fort Lauderdale, United States and Georgetown, Guyana. In July, it added Campinas, Brazil; and Santa Clara, Cuba. In April 2014, Copa Airlines became the first airline in Latin America and the third in the world to implement the Split Scimitar Winglets on its Boeing 737 NG fleet.

In January 2015, the airline achieved a milestone in its history when it re-launched daily domestic flights to David, Chiriquí, the first ones since the closure of the route three decades earlier. Also, Copa Airlines announced new flights to Villahermosa and Puebla, Mexico; and New Orleans, United States. Three months later, the airline announced another new destination In the U.S: San Francisco, California, United States. In July 2015, Copa Airlines announced service to Belize City which began in December 2015.

Copa Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 HP-9903CMP taxiing at JFK Airport
Copa Airlines is Latin America's first Boeing 737 MAX 9 operator.

In April 2015, the airline announced an order for 61 Boeing 737 MAX 8/9 aircraft worth $6.6 billion at list price.

On June 21, 2016, the airline started flights to Holguín. On June 28, 2016, the airline started flights to Chiclayo. On July 1, 2016, the airline started flights to Rosario.

In December 2016, Wingo, a Colombia based low cost airline owned by Copa, began operations.

On November 15, 2017, the airline started flights to Mendoza, Argentina. On December 11, 2017, the airline started flights to Denver, United States.

On January 29, 2018, Copa Airlines announced that it would start flights to Bridgetown, Barbados on July 17, 2018; Fortaleza, Brazil on July 18, 2018; and Salvador da Bahia, Brazil on July 24, 2018.

On December 12, 2018, the airline started flights to Salta, Argentina. On December 16, 2018, the airline started flights to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

On January 17, 2019, the airline announced flights to Paramaribo, Suriname; which commenced on July 6, 2019.

On December 2, 2021, the airline started flights to Armenia, Colombia. On December 6, 2021, the airline restarted flights to Cúcuta, Colombia. On December 12, 2021, the airline started flights to Atlanta, United States.

On June 28, 2022, the airline started flights to Santa Marta, Colombia. On June 30, 2022, the airline started flights to Barcelona, Venezuela. On September 26, 2022, the airline started flights to Mexico City's new secondary airport, Felipe Ángeles International Airport.

On June 27, 2023, the airline started flights to Manta, Ecuador. On June 28, 2023, the airline started flights to Baltimore, Maryland. On July 6, 2023, the airline started flights to Austin, Texas. On October 17, 2023, the airline started flights to Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

Corporate affairs

The key trends for Copa Airlines are (as of the financial year ending 31 December):

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Revenue (US$ m) 2,163 2,519 2,619 2,253 2,219 2,521 2,677 2,707 760 1,412 2,824
Net profit (US$ m) 326 427 361 −240 323 362 88.1 247 −607 43.8 348
Number of employees 8,277 8,644 9,267 9,302 8,733 9,045 9,450 8,877 5,667 6,127 7,265
Number of passengers (m) 10.2 11.3 11.6 11.8 12.8 14.2 15.1 15.4
Load factor (%) 75.4 76.7 76.7 75.2 80.4 83.2 83.4 84.8 79.6 78.6 85.1
Number of destinations 64 66 69 73 73 75 80 80 54 69 78
Number of served countries 29 29 30 31 31 31 32 33 25 29 32
Fleet size 83 90 98 100 99 106 105 102 77 91 97
References

Destinations

As of November 2023 Copa Airlines serves 32 countries and 84 routes in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Codeshare agreements

Copa Airlines codeshares with the following airlines:

Fleet

Current fleet

As of May 2024, the Copa Airlines fleet consists of the following Boeing aircraft:

Copa Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Boeing 737-700 9 12 114 126 Boeing 737-700 become by split winglets.

Deliveries split winglets until 2025.

Boeing 737-800 58 16 144 160 Two aircraft to be converted into freighters.
150 166
Boeing 737 MAX 8 42 16 150 166 Number of aircraft per variant has yet to be determined.
Boeing 737 MAX 9 13 16 150 166
17 12 162 174
Boeing 737 MAX 10 15 TBA
Copa Airlines Cargo fleet
Boeing 737-800BCF 1 1 Cargo
Total 98 57

Boeing 737-700

Registration Serial Number Delivery date Notes
HP-1372CMP 399 (1999-10-21) October 21, 1999 (age 25)
HP-1373CMP 459 (2000-01-20) January 20, 2000 (age 24)
HP-1374CMP 494 (2000-04-17) April 17, 2000 (age 24)
HP-1375CMP 558 (2000-05-19) May 19, 2000 (age 24)
HP-1376CMP 574 (2000-06-07) June 7, 2000 (age 24)
HP-1377CMP 1161 (2002-06-20) June 20, 2002 (age 22)
HP-1378CMP 1161 (2002-07-11) July 11, 2002 (age 22)
HP-1520CMP 1376 (2003-09-10) September 10, 2003 (age 21)
HP-1521CMP 1379 (2003-10-22) October 22, 2003 (age 21)
HP-1530CMP 1962 (2006-06-24) June 24, 2006 (age 18)
HP-1531CMP 1995 (2006-07-19) July 19, 2006 (age 18)

Boeing 737-800

Registration Serial Number Delivery Date Notes
HP-1522WWP 1387 (2003-10-06) October 6, 2003 (age 21) Cargo Copa Airlines
HP-1523CMP 1397 (2003-11-05) November 5, 2003 (age 21) Wingo Livery
HP-1524CMP 1505 (2004-05-19) May 19, 2004 (age 20) Boeing 737-700
HP-1526CMP 1585 (2004-10-07) October 7, 2004 (age 20)
HP-1533CMP 2423 (2007-11-01) November 1, 2007 (age 17)
HP-1534CMP 2624 (2008-06-05) June 5, 2008 (age 16) "New Panama National Football team" special colours Apr 2024
HP-1535CMP 2805 (2009-02-12) February 12, 2009 (age 15) Wingo Livery
HP-1537CMP 3114 (2010-01-19) January 19, 2010 (age 14) Wingo Livery
HP-1538CMP 3130 (2009-12-29) December 29, 2009 (age 14)
HP-1539CMP 3151 (2010-03-19) March 19, 2010 (age 14)
HP-1711CMP 3265 (2010-05-07) May 7, 2010 (age 14) Wingo Livery
HP-1712CMP 3267 (2010-04-28) April 28, 2010 (age 14)
HP-1713CMP 3455 (2010-11-29) November 29, 2010 (age 14) Wingo Livery
HP-1714CMP 3476 (2010-12-01) December 1, 2010 (age 14) Wingo Livery
HP-1715CMP 3500 (2010-12-21) December 21, 2010 (age 13) Wingo Livery
HP-1716CMP 3567 (2011-03-04) March 4, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1717CMP 3595 (2011-03-30) March 30, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1718CMP 3611 (2011-04-14) April 14, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1719CMP 3695 (2011-07-08) July 8, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1720CMP 3739 (2011-08-12) August 12, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1721CMP 3751 (2011-08-25) August 25, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1722CMP 3761 (2011-09-02) September 2, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1723CMP 3781 (2011-09-23) September 23, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1724CMP 3810 (2011-10-21) October 21, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1725CMP 3839 (2011-11-23) November 23, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1726CMP 3919 (2012-02-08) February 8, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1727CMP 3956 (2011-03-09) March 9, 2011 (age 13)
HP-1728CMP 3971 (2012-03-21) March 21, 2012 (age 12) Star Alliance
HP-1729CMP 3977 (2012-03-27) March 27, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1730CMP 3988 (2012-04-05) April 5, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1821CMP 4005 (2012-04-20) April 20, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1822CMP 4033 (2012-05-16) May 16, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1823CMP 4051 (2012-05-30) May 30, 2012 (age 12) Star Alliance
HP-1824CMP 4083 (2012-06-27) June 27, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1825CMP 4179 (2012-09-19) September 19, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1826CMP 4189 (2012-09-26) September 26, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1827CMP 4221 (2012-10-23) October 23, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1828CMP 4233 (2012-11-02) November 2, 2012 (age 12)
HP-1829CMP 4361 (2013-02-28) February 28, 2013 (age 11)
HP-1830CMP 4396 (2013-03-28) March 28, 2013 (age 11) Star Alliance
HP-1831CMP 4398 (2013-04-03) April 3, 2013 (age 11)
HP-1832CMP 4552 (2013-08-02) August 2, 2013 (age 11)
HP-1833CMP 4562 (2013-08-09) August 9, 2013 (age 11) Seating reconfiguration at PTY
HP-1834CMP 4588 (2013-09-04) September 4, 2013 (age 11)
HP-1835CMP 4626 (2013-10-16) October 16, 2013 (age 11)
HP-1836CMP 4846 (2014-03-28) March 28, 2014 (age 10)
HP-1837CMP 4857 (2014-04-09) April 9, 2014 (age 10)
HP-1838CMP 4956 (2014-06-18) June 18, 2014 (age 10)
HP-1839CMP 4975 (2014-07-02) July 2, 2014 (age 10)
HP-1840CMP 5014 (2014-08-06) August 6, 2014 (age 10) New Livery Concept
HP-1841CMP 5059 (2014-09-03) September 3, 2014 (age 10) Retro Livery
HP-1842CMP 5100 (2014-10-02) October 2, 2014 (age 10)
HP-1843CMP 5144 (2014-11-05) November 5, 2014 (age 10)
HP-1844CMP 5342 (2015-03-27) March 27, 2015 (age 9)
HP-1845CMP 5357 (2015-04-10) April 10, 2015 (age 9)
HP-1846CMP 5417 (2015-05-22) May 22, 2015 (age 9)
HP-1847CMP 5535 (2015-08-19) August 19, 2015 (age 9)
HP-1848CMP 5543 (2015-08-21) August 21, 2015 (age 9)
HP-1849CMP 5607 (2015-10-09) October 9, 2015 (age 9) ConnectMiles.com
HP-1850CMP 5619 (2015-10-20) October 20, 2015 (age 9)
HP-1851CMP 5631 (2015-10-22) October 22, 2015 (age 9)
HP-1852CMP 5667 (2015-11-20) November 20, 2015 (age 9)
HP-1853CMP 5962 (2016-06-29) June 29, 2016 (age 8)
HP-1854CMP 6221 (2017-01-12) January 12, 2017 (age 7)
HP-1855CMP 6297 (2017-03-03) March 3, 2017 (age 7)
HP-1856CMP 6757 (2018-01-19) January 19, 2018 (age 6)
HP-1857CMP 6898 (2018-04-16) April 16, 2018 (age 6)

Boeing 737 MAX 9

Registration Serial Number Delivery Date Notes
HP-9901CMP 7096 (2018-08-31) August 31, 2018 (age 6)
HP-9902CMP 7196 (2018-11-02) November 2, 2018 (age 6)
HP-9903CMP 7208 (2018-10-30) October 30, 2018 (age 6)
HP-9904CMP 7246 (2018-11-20) November 20, 2018 (age 6)
HP-9905CMP 7306 (2019-01-10) January 10, 2019 (age 5)
HP-9906CMP 7384 (2019-02-22) February 22, 2019 (age 5)
HP-9907CMP 7448 (2021-01-13) January 13, 2021 (age 3)
HP-9908CMP 7473 (2020-12-22) December 22, 2020 (age 3)
HP-9909CMP 7543 (2021-01-23) January 23, 2021 (age 3)
HP-9910CMP 7702 (2021-02-02) February 2, 2021 (age 3)
HP-9911CMP 7772 (2021-02-19) February 19, 2021 (age 3)}
HP-9912CMP 7793 (2021-03-03) March 3, 2021 (age 3)
HP-9913CMP 7884 (2021-03-29) March 29, 2021 (age 3)
HP-9914CMP 8157 (2022-01-01) January 1, 2022 (age 2)
HP-9915CMP 8168 (2022-01-25) January 25, 2022 (age 2)
HP-9916CMP 8176 (2022-02-12) February 12, 2022 (age 2)
HP-9917CMP 8241 (2022-06-01) June 1, 2022 (age 2)
HP-9918CMP 8319 (2022-08-11) August 11, 2022 (age 2)
HP-9919CMP 8388 (2022-10-26) October 26, 2022 (age 2)
HP-9920CMP 8424 (2022-11-22) November 22, 2022 (age 2)
HP-9921CMP 8492 (2023-02-01) February 1, 2023 (age 22 months)
HP-9922CMP 8525 (2023-03-10) March 10, 2023 (age 20 months)
HP-9923CMP 8590 (2023-05-24) May 24, 2023 (age 18 months)
HP-9924CMP 8644 (2023-06-24) June 24, 2023 (age 17 months)
HP-9925CMP 8654 (2023-07-12) July 12, 2023 (age 16 months)
HP-9926CMP 8737 (2023-09-19) September 19, 2023 (age 14 months) Get Tested Early "Hazlo a Tiempo" "Pink Livery"
HP-9927CMP 8756 (2023-11-01) November 1, 2023 (age 13 months) Panama Live For More Livery
HP-9928CMP 8811 (2023-11-01) November 1, 2023 (age 13 months)
HP-9929CMP 8826 (2023-11-21) November 21, 2023 (age 12 months)
HP-9930CMP 8858 On Order
HP-9931CMP 8877 (2024-04-30) April 30, 2024 (age 7 months)
HP-9932CMP 8886 On Order ConnectMiles.com

Fleet development

  • Copa Airlines was the first Latin American customer of the Embraer 190. The airline also operated the longest scheduled Boeing 737-700 flight in the world between Panama City and Montevideo, Uruguay, until it was overtaken by Scandinavian Airlines's Stavanger to Houston service. The route regained the title when the SAS service closed in October 2015.
  • In October 2004, Copa Airlines announced an order to purchase ten Embraer 190 aircraft with options for an additional 20 aircraft. Later orders were increased by exercising five options. Six aircraft were delivered in the first quarter of 2007.
  • In May 2007, the airline made firm commitments to purchase four Boeing 737-800 and ten Embraer E-190, representing an investment of approximately $1.1 billion.
  • On 16 July 2009, the airline announced an order for 13 Boeing 737-800 aircraft that came with the new Boeing's signature "Sky Interior".
  • In November 2010, Copa and Boeing announced the purchase of 22 Boeing 737-800 planes, set for delivery between 2015 and 2018, with an option to acquire ten more Boeing 737-800, valued approximately at $1.7 billion. This was the largest plane order in Copa Airlines history until the purchase of 61 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in April 2015, valued approximately at $6.6 billion.
  • In April 2013, Copa Airlines received from Boeing the first of the Next-Generation 737s (A Boeing 737-800, registration HP-1831CMP) produced at High Production Rate.
  • In April 2014, the carrier received its first Boeing 737-800 (registration HP-1836CMP) with Split Scimitar winglets and expects to retrofit all the Boeing 737s with the new winglets.
  • In 2012, Copa showed interest in acquiring the re-engineered Boeing 737 MAX family. In April 2015, the airline placed a firm order for 61 Boeing 737 MAX-8 and MAX-9 aircraft. The number of aircraft for each variant has yet to be published.
  • In November 2015, Copa Airlines announced the gradual retirement of the Embraer 190 fleet, in favor of the Boeing 737s. One was sold in late 2019, and the remaining 14 were sold to Australia's Alliance Airlines in 2020.

Former fleet

Copa Airlines formerly operated the following aircraft:

Copa Airlines former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Boeing 707-320C 1 1993 1994
Boeing 727-100 1 1985 1987 Leased from Evergreen International Airlines
Boeing 737-100 1 1980 1980 Leased from Air Florida
1 1988 1993 Written off as Flight 301
Boeing 737-200 21 1988 2005
1 1988 1992 Crashed as Flight 201
Boeing 737-700 11 1999 2020 Early retirement accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leased from four United Airlines

Convair CV-240 1 1968 1969
Convair CV-340 1 1968 1974
Curtiss C-46 Commando 3 1956 1960
Douglas C-47 Skytrain 3 1947 1982
Douglas DC-6B 1 1981 1982
Embraer 190AR 15 2005 2020
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 2 1969 1978
Lockheed L-188A Electra 3 1971 1986
Martin 4-0-4 1 1961 1965

Liveries

Copa Airlines has used these liveries on their aircraft.

Since its founding in 1947, Copa Airlines used several liveries during the update of its fleet from turboprops to jetliners. Also, it has special liveries within its fleet. In November 2003, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Panama, Copa Airlines adorned its fleet of Boeing 737-700s with a special livery depicting the official centennial logo and portrait of the first president of Panama, Manuel Amador Guerrero.

In 2006, a Copa Airlines Embraer 190 sported a special livery denoting it was the 200th Embraer 190 produced by the Brazilian plane manufacturer Embraer.

On 3 February 2011, the Tourism Authority of Panama worked alongside Copa Airlines to create a special livery for a Boeing 737-800 (registered HP-1534CMP) depicting a butterfly logo of Panama and the URL "visitpanama.com". This was part of an effort to promote tourism in Panama. As of 2013, the plane no longer has the logo on the left forward side.

On 6 March 2012, a new Copa Airlines Boeing 737-800 (registered HP-1728CMP) carried the Star Alliance livery. Also, it introduced a redesigned font style in the Copa Airlines' logo. This plane was inactive until 21 June, when it was exhibited in the celebration of the company's official integration to Star Alliance. The aircraft began service six days later, making the first scheduled non-stop passenger flight from Panama to Las Vegas. On 30 May 2012, another new Boeing 737-800 (registered HP-1823CMP) received the Star Alliance livery.

Copa received a new Boeing 737-800 (registered HP-1825CMP, shown at the right) in October 2012, sporting a livery depicting Frank Gehry's Biomuseo, a museum that opened in Panama City in October 2013.

In March 2013, a newly built Boeing 737-800 for Copa Airlines (registered HP-1830CMP) was painted with the Star Alliance livery scheme. This was the third aircraft in the fleet with the former Star Alliance livery.

In August 2014, Copa Airlines worked with the Panama Canal Authority to launch a special campaign in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal. The campaign included the implementation of a special livery, which has a graphic image of the locks, on the back of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft and is expected to be implemented on more than 40 aircraft of the fleet.

From 1947 to present, Copa Airlines has used the following liveries:

  • Compañia Panameña de Aviación (1947–1961)
  • Vuele Copa (1961–1965)
  • Copa Panama (original) - White fuselage with a red or green cheatline (1965–1971)
  • Copa Panama (1st upgrade) - Red and orange cheatline with white fuselage (1971–1980)
  • Copa Panama (2nd upgrade) - Red and yellow cheatline with white fuselage (1980–1990)
  • Copa "Billboard Style" - Red and yellow cheatline with white fuselage, and "Copa" logo in the front part of the widebody and tail (1990–1999)
  • Copa Airlines (original) - white and gray fuselage, with gold cheatline in the middle, and the well-known globe logo. This livery is mostly same to Continental Airlines' 1991 livery, except the "globe" icon have different design, and "Copa Airlines" written on fuselage replace "Continental" (1999–2012)
  • Copa Airlines (1st upgrade) - Same to original, but "Copa Airlines" is now in sans font, which is similar to the font used by United Airlines (2012–present)

The white and gray livery which is similar to Continental Airlines' 1991 livery has been used by Copa Airlines since 1999, after Continental raised its ownership of the company to 51% in that year. Although Continental ceased operations in March 2012 as a result of its merger with United Airlines, Copa and United still use a similar "globe" logo design, but the rest of their liveries are different. Also, Copa did not introduce a new livery in 2019 when United Airlines introduced the new "United Blue" livery in this year.

Services

Boeing 737-8V3(w) 'HP-1831CMP' Copa Airlines (14251955715)
A Copa Airlines Boeing 737-800 departing Los Angeles International Airport, in California (2014)

Business Class

Business seats are available on all aircraft. Business Class passengers check in at separate counters and are given priority with boarding and baggage handling, access to the Copa/United Club and other airline lounges, and bonus miles for the Copa ConnectMiles program. In-flight service includes pre-departure beverages, multi-course meals, and pillows and blankets (depending on the type and duration of the flight) on all international flights. Business Class also either equipped with reclinable leather seats with footrests and adjustable headrest or a lie-flat bed product on their 737MAX fleet which also includes a 120V power outlet, a large tray table, a USB port, and personal Audio-Video-on-Demand (AVOD) screen.

Special configuration of Copa Airlines' 737 MAX-9 Copa Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX-9 aircraft provide special benefits designed to offer more comfort and convenience during the flight, such as the exclusive Dreams Business Class, which has 16 flat beds and state-of-the-art 16-inch touch screens.

Economy Class

Economy seats are available on all aircraft. Economy seats on brand-new Boeing 737-800s feature an adjustable headrest and a personal AVOD with a 5-inch (13 cm) touch screen, while older 737-800s provide entertainment on flip down screens above the seats. All Boeing 737 are also equipped with a radio antenna, which allows passengers to listen a wide list of songs and instrumentals from twelve channels. Food and snacks are available on domestic, short, and some medium-haul international flights. Full meals are complimentary on all other medium and long-haul international flights. Alcoholic drinks are complimentary for economy passengers on all flights.

Additionally, the main cabin has 24 Economy Extra seats, with more space, more entertainment options, and more comfort. Also, the Main Cabin has USB ports at each seat and larger overhead bins.

ConnectMiles

Copa190
Copa Airlines in the Connect Miles livery on their Embraer 190 at Princess Juliana Airport (SXM)

ConnectMiles is Copa Airlines' frequent flyer program, offering frequent travelers the ability to purchase tickets with miles. Customers accrue miles from flight segments flown on Copa Airlines, United Airlines, and other Star Alliance member airlines. Benefits of Premier status include priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, and discounted airport lounge memberships (United Club/Copa Club). Due to the Continental-United merger, Copa Airlines phased out the OnePass frequent flyer program on December 31, 2011, and adopted the MileagePlus program on March 3, 2012.

In March 2015, Copa Airlines announced that it would phase out the MileagePlus program in favor of a new frequent flyer program called ConnectMiles. The new program was fully implemented on July 1, 2015.

Copa Club

Copa Club is the membership airport lounge program of Copa Airlines jointly operated with United Airlines. Copa Club lounge is located in its hub at Tocumen International Airport, Panama City, Panama. The lounges offer amenities for travelers and members also have access to affiliated lounges around the world. The Copa Club locations in Central America and the Caribbean includes:

  • Augusto César Sandino International Airport (Nicaragua)
  • Juan Santamaria International Airport (Costa Rica)
  • Las Américas International Airport (Santo Domingo)
  • La Aurora International Airport (Guatemala)
  • Eldorado International Airport (Bogota)
  • Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (Medellin)
  • Tocumen International Airport (Panama)

On-Time Performance

Copa was recognized as the most-on time airline in Latin America for 2023. Cirium identified the airline's on-time performance rate at 89.46%%, whereas the average for Latin America was 81.67%.

Incidents and accidents

During its history, Copa Airlines had the following incidents and accidents:

Copa Airlines reported incidents
Flight Date Aircraft Location Description Casualties
Fatal Serious Minor Uninjured Ground
201 June 6, 1992 Boeing 737-200 near Tucutí, Darien Flight 201, a leased Boeing 737-200 Advanced (registered HP-1205CMP), flipped and crashed in the Darién Gap during a flight from Panama City to Cali after an instrument failure. All 40 passengers and seven crew members died. This is the only fatal accident in Copa Airlines history to date. 47 0 0 0 0
301 November 19, 1993 Boeing 737-100 Tocumen International Airport The plane (registered HP-873CMP) was damaged beyond repair when it veered off the runway upon landing at Tocumen International Airport at 19:19 local time following a flight from Miami, Florida, with 86 passengers and six crew members. The pilots could not properly align the aircraft with the runway because of severe crosswinds, which led to the nose gear being torn off. There were no reported injuries. 0 0 0 92 0

Hijackings

Since its foundation in 1947, Copa Airlines has suffered one hijacking attempt:

  • On 7 August 1994, a hijacking attempt occurred on board a Copa flight from Panama City to Guatemala City. Then it was reported as a misunderstanding by Panamanian authorities.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Copa Airlines para niños

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Copa Airlines Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.