Copa Airways is making one other push to show connecting passengers into guests. This week, the Central American provider introduced it is increasing its Panama Stopover program from seven to fifteen days, permitting passengers to make a cease in its residence nation at no extra airfare value.
By permitting passengers to spend as much as two weeks exploring Panama earlier than persevering with onto their remaining vacation spot, the airline goals to indicate vacationers that this Latin American nation is a vacation spot in and of itself.
Methods to guide a Copa Airways stopover in Panama
It is simple to order a Panama trip by this stopover program. When looking for flights on Copa’s web site, merely head to the “multi-city/stopover” tab, and select your journey dates and cities.
This initiative goals to spice up tourism and the native economic system, however it’s additionally designed to encourage guests to expertise the nation’s seashores, rainforests and cities and cultural sights relatively than merely passing by on a connection.
Copa and its tourism companions look to draw 250,000 guests in 2026 alone.
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“By way of the Panama Stopover program, we proceed working alongside authorities and business companions to strengthen the nation’s tourism promotion and create extra alternatives for Panama’s economic system,” Copa Airways CEO Pedro Heilbron stated in an announcement.
The 2 terminals at Panama’s Tocumen Worldwide Airport (PTY) already see 19 million passengers yearly, and the airport is sometimes called the “Hub of the Americas.” Since it is a main connection level between North and South America, it is a handy place for a cease when flying between North and South America.
Flyers will even discover a brand new interactive set up on the airport that lets them study locations throughout the nation and construct personalized itineraries lasting three, 5, seven or 15 days — a enjoyable strategy to get some journey inspiration.
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Go to 2 cities for the (ticket) value of 1
Copa’s stopover program is a part of a broader trend among airlines in search of to remodel hub cities into locations in their very own proper.
For instance, Icelandair launched the idea by permitting passengers touring between North America and Europe to stop in Iceland for as much as seven days with no extra airfare. Turkish Airways promotes prolonged stays in Istanbul by complimentary lodge and tour packages for eligible passengers.
Qatar Airways and Emirates additionally supply stopover packages that encourage vacationers to spend time in Doha or Dubai, respectively, earlier than persevering with their journeys.
And although this is not a brand new tactic to draw tourism, it is one which has regularly confirmed to be a well-liked method for vacationers to go to a number of locations with out having to pay further in airfare.
With respect to Panama, I bought a first look last year at an attractive new lodge and spa that is a fantastic choice for World of Hyatt loyalists making a cease in Panama — about two hours exterior the capital metropolis.
However there are a number of factors lodges in nearer to city, too — whether or not you are loyal to Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors factors.
Associated: Hotel La Compania del Valle’s massive spa and nature access will draw Hyatt loyalists to Panama
Backside line
Tens of millions of passengers join by PTY every year, so this prolonged stopover program could flip them into guests who spend a number of days within the nation — and possibly even fall in love with it and return.
Price noting: Copa is a part of the Star Alliance, which makes them a accomplice of United Airways within the U.S. Meaning you possibly can put in your MileagePlus loyalty quantity while you go to guide, and earn United miles on your journey.
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