Flying to Panama

General Information

In addition to numerous local airfields, Panama has around twenty airports with at least one regular connection, primarily to the capital, where almost all traffic transits in one way or another. This includes international flights, as aside from a few very rare services to David and Bocas del Toro, all flights to and from abroad serve only Panama City.

The capital has two airports: Albrook, which is almost exclusively dedicated to domestic flights, and Tocumen International, which handles the rest and is even the largest airport in Central America (excluding Mexico) with nearly 8 million passengers per year. Panama City is also the base for the country’s only two local airlines.

Types of Flights

Local Airlines

Panama currently has only two airlines: Air Panama and Copa Airlines. Aside from San José (Costa Rica) and Medellín (Colombia), the first serves only domestic destinations (24 cities), while Copa is the national carrier with a network of 70 cities across the Americas and has been a member of Star Alliance since 2012, serving as its regional hub. It is also one of the leading airlines in Latin America.

Charters, Scheduled, and Low-Cost Flights

Panama is primarily a destination for scheduled flights and, through Copa’s extensive network, a transit hub for travelers from Europe and, to a lesser extent, South America. However, there are also some seasonal services, mainly from Canada.

Promotions and Special Offers

Promotions mainly apply to charter and/or all-inclusive packages from North America. For other flights, deals on Panama are not unique to the destination but reflect specific offers from airlines on their networks that include Panama.

From France and Europe

With direct connections from Paris, Madrid (Iberia), Lisbon (TAP), Frankfurt (Condor, Lufthansa), and Amsterdam (KLM), Panama is relatively well-served from Europe compared to many other destinations in the region. The fact that it is the hub of a major regional airline (by Latin American standards) also plays a role.

From France

Air France offers direct flights from Roissy to Panama in about ten hours, though many flights labeled AF actually include at least one stop in various locations depending on the airline’s partnerships. In short, from France, you’ll find a few rare direct flights and many with a change of airline, either European or American. Prices: 550/900 €.

Selection Criteria

If price is a factor, consider flight duration and, if opting for U.S. carriers, the constraints of transiting through the United States. Compare U.S. airlines (such as American, United, Delta) with European ones like Iberia or Air France, which may offer more or less direct routes but aren’t necessarily the most economical. Note that total travel times to and from Panama, including layovers, can vary significantly—roughly from 10 to over 30 hours—depending on the airline and route.

From the Americas

Canada

Whether from Montreal or Toronto, service to Panama and its capital is quite good, with both regular and seasonal flights. The country attracts many Canadians, particularly with its all-inclusive options.

Montreal: Panama City (Air Transat + Copa + Sunwing).

Toronto: Panama City (Air Canada + Air Transat + Copa + Sunwing).

United States

Logically, the U.S. is the best-served country, as it accounts for the largest number of visitors to Panama, and relations between the two countries have always been close. Atlanta (Delta), Denver (United), Texas (American, United), Florida (American, Copa, Spirit), and New York (Copa, United) have direct flights to and from Panama City, as do other U.S. cities served only by Copa Airlines (Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.).

Central America

Costa Rica: Bocas del Toro (Nature Air from San José), David (Air Panama from San José), Panama City (Copa from Liberia + Avianca CR, Copa from San José).

Belize: Panama City (Copa).

Guatemala: Panama City (Copa).

Honduras (San Pedro and Teguc.): Panama City (Copa)

El Salvador: Panama City (Avianca ES, Copa).

Mexico: Panama City (Copa to Cancún, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, and Villahermosa + Aeroméxico, Copa to Mexico City).

Nicaragua: Panama City (Conviasa, Copa to Managua).

Caribbean

Aruba, Curaçao, the Bahamas, Cuba (3 cities), Jamaica (2 cities), Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic (2 cities), St. Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago all have Copa Airlines flights.

Latin America

All Latin American countries, except Guyana and Suriname, have at least one Copa Airlines (or other) connection to and from Panama City. Venezuela (5 cities) and especially Colombia (around ten airports) are the best served, thanks in part to Copa Airlines Colombia, a local subsidiary of the Panamanian airline.

For those looking to fly between Central and South America (Colombia), or vice versa, flights between Panama City and Bogotá or Medellín with the Colombian low-cost airline Viva Colombia can often be found for around $100 round trip.

From Elsewhere

There are no connections outside the Americas or Europe, except for a potential Dubai-Panama route operated by Emirates, which, if it materializes, would be the world’s longest non-stop flight (17 hours and 35 minutes) since the Singapore-New York route was discontinued in 2013.