What Happened
Copa Airlines has extended its Panama Stopover program, allowing international passengers in transit to stay in Panama for up to 15 days at no extra cost while connecting through the country. The program previously allowed stays of up to seven days.
The expansion comes after a strong rise in interest from travelers who want to spend part of their trip exploring Panama rather than simply passing through its hub at Tocumen International Airport.
Tourism Gains Momentum
Pedro Heilbron, Copa Airlines’ chief executive, said demand for the program pushed the airline to widen the benefit. He said Stopover tourism grew 25% in 2025, reaching 215,000 visitors, compared with 2024.
For 2026, the airline expects to attract more than 250,000 visitors through the program. Heilbron also said the first quarter of this year brought a 35% increase in Stopover travelers, totaling 63,523 people.
The program has helped turn Panama into more than a connection point for airline passengers. By encouraging travelers to leave the airport and spend days in the country, it adds hotel nights, restaurant visits, transport spending, and tourism activity across several regions.
Benefits Beyond Panama City
Panama’s tourism authorities say the extended stay should strengthen the economic impact of transit visitors. Gloria De León, administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority, said a longer stay can increase hotel occupancy and tourist consumption across the country.
She also pointed to the rise in international arrivals at the start of the year, saying the trend supports continued growth in the sector. During Holy Week, churches in Panama City’s Casco Antiguo recorded 320,000 visits, according to preliminary figures, showing the pull of cultural and religious tourism in the capital.
Destinations outside Panama City are also gaining ground. Heilbron highlighted David, in Chiriquí province, as a destination drawing more attention from both local and international travelers. He said about 25% of passengers arriving there come through the airline’s connection hub.
Copa has increased service to Chiriquí to three flights a day, and up to four on weekends, boosting seat capacity on the route by about 40%. The added space is intended to make travel easier to western Panama and spread tourism benefits beyond the capital.
New Airport Attraction Coming in June
Heilbron also announced plans to open an interactive exhibition space at Tocumen International Airport in June, located between Terminals 1 and 2. The display will be designed for transit passengers and will showcase Panama’s destinations and attractions, giving travelers another reason to turn a layover into a short visit.
The new Stopover length, combined with growing flight capacity and airport promotion, reflects a broader effort to position Panama as a destination that can capture more value from its role as a regional air hub.