Panama’s flagship carrier, Copa Airlines, has expanded its flexibility policy for passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations following the powerful earthquake that struck the country on Friday, October 9, and the aftershocks that followed. Travelers holding tickets issued on or before October 9, 2026, with travel scheduled between October 9 and 14 on any Copa route, can now change their travel dates at no cost, keep the value of their ticket as credit, or request a refund — even on fares that are normally non-refundable.
What Happened
The measures respond to the temporary closures of Tocumen International Airport after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit Panamanian territory on Friday, October 9. The airport halted operations for several hours while runways and infrastructure were assessed, leaving Copa Airlines, the largest operator at Tocumen, with significant schedule disruptions.
Under the expanded policy, affected passengers have three main options:
1. Change travel dates at no cost. There is no change fee and no fare difference applied. Trips can be rescheduled for travel up until October 31, 2026.
2. Keep the ticket value as credit. The value of the ticket can be held for future travel, with no change fee charged while the ticket remains valid.
3. Request a refund. This applies to unused tickets or the unused portion of partially used tickets, even when the fare purchased was not originally refundable.
The policy covers tickets issued up to October 9, 2026, for travel scheduled between October 9 and October 14 on any route operated by Copa Airlines.
Background
Copa Airlines operates its main hub at Tocumen International Airport, making it the largest carrier at the facility and one of the most important airlines in Latin America. The “Hub of the Americas” connects passengers across the region, meaning disruptions in Panama ripple throughout the hemisphere’s air travel network.
After resuming services, airport authorities announced they were temporarily suspending takeoffs and landings whenever an aftershock was felt, in order to inspect runways, taxiways, aprons, and other installations before returning to normal operations. These precautionary pauses have continued to generate new delays and schedule adjustments.
The interruptions affect air connectivity because they alter scheduled flights and passenger connections, but authorities have emphasized that safety takes priority over punctuality during this period.
What This Means for Panama
For travelers, the expanded Copa policy provides meaningful relief, removing financial penalties that would normally apply to last-minute changes. Passengers who have not yet begun their journey are advised to check the status of their flight on copa.com or through the Copa Airlines mobile app before heading to the airport, as additional delays and schedule adjustments remain possible while aftershock inspections continue.
For Panama more broadly, the episode highlights both the vulnerability and the resilience of the country’s aviation infrastructure. Tocumen is the backbone of Panama’s position as a regional connecting hub, and the airport’s decision to prioritize thorough inspections over rapid restarts reflects an emphasis on operational safety. Ongoing aftershock-related pauses will likely continue to affect schedules in the short term, so travelers transiting through Panama in the coming days should build extra time into their plans and monitor airline communications closely.
This story was originally reported by La Prensa.