The Copa Airlines network will reach 85 destinations in 32 countries in the Americas, expecting to move 17.5 million passengers during 2024. These figures were provided today by Pedro Heilbron, CEO of the airline, during a conference that took place in Panama, where growth and investment plans for the year were shared, as well as the impact on the economy of the Central American country.
In this regard, Heilbron detailed that Copa Airlines will add more than 630 new employees in 2024, reaching 7,750 in Panama, generating more than USD 1.6 billion “among payments to the treasury, government institutions, payroll, and local suppliers, among others”.
“The international connectivity offered by Copa Airlines, greater than that offered from other hubs in the region, is a competitive advantage for Panama that highlights the impact and strategic relevance of the Hub of the Americas® on the country’s economy,” said Heilbron.
“This unique connectivity is also an attraction for airlines from other regions of the world that complement their flights in our country. A better-connected country translates into opportunities for everyone, which is why we invest in new aircraft for the expansion of routes and frequencies that generate more jobs, more economic development, and more growth in tourism,” he continued.
In terms of network, Copa Airlines will add three new destinations during the first half of the year: Tulum, Florianópolis, and Raleigh-Durham. Along with the projected increase in frequencies in existing destinations, passenger traffic in 2024 is estimated to be 21% higher than in 2019, before the pandemic outbreak.
This will be possible with the addition of new aircraft that will take the fleet from 96 at the end of 2023 to 107 in 2024 and 120 in 2025.
Panama Stopover
Copa Airlines also highlighted the benefits of the Panama Stopover program, which allows for an increasingly growing flow of passengers connecting through Tocumen Airport to be diverted to domestic tourism.
In 2023, more than 120,000 passengers visited Panama thanks to the program, a figure 17.9% higher than the previous year. The “Panama Irresistible” rates also allowed for a 14% increase in visitors to the country on Copa Airlines flights. In 2024, the company plans to continue promoting tourism with the new campaign “It’s Very Panama”, promoting local attractions in key U.S. markets.
Of the 1.6 million tourists who arrived in Panama by air during 2023 (a figure 17.7% higher than in 2022), about 60% arrived through Copa Airlines.
See also: Copa Airlines plans frequency increase in more than 40 destinations
Beyond the Airport
Copa Airlines also contributed to the Panamanian economy by supporting local companies, purchasing products offered on board such as Café Rogusta, Comercializadora Nico, Finca El Viejito, Zabuska, and Oro Moreno Panama, among others.
Building the Future
The staff of Copa Airlines in Panama will grow to 7,700 people during 2024, projecting another 500 more for 2025.
Considering the need for skilled labor in the industry, the company continues to support professional development through the Latin American Academy of Superior Aviation (ALAS), a non-profit institution partly subsidized by Copa Airlines from which more than 233 commercial pilots have already graduated. Currently, there are 84 active students, and 61 new pilots are projected to graduate by the end of 2024.
It also supports the Academy of Aeronautical Technicians, training personnel in maintenance and inspection of aeronautical systems, from which 134 mechanics have already graduated and has 86 students receiving a monthly scholarship of USD 350.
Lastly, the Copa Airlines Cabin Crew Academy expects to graduate 360 professionals in 2024.
