News

Copa Airlines is continuing its aggressive expansion in the United States with new direct flights to San Francisco, starting in September.

The daily flights, scheduled to start Step. 17, represent a major new addition to Copa’s connections to the United States. San Francisco is a main hub for United Airlines, which is part of the Star Alliance, along with Copa. That means a trip to San Francisco can provide easy access to a wide array of global destinations, making it easier for people from throughout Asia to reach Panama.

“Copa’s new flight not only will greatly enhance business and leisure travel options between San Francisco and Panama, it also will increase connectivity with 55 destinations throughout Latin America,” Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron said in a statement. “Our flight has the potential to make a substantial contribution to tourism and general economic development between California, Panama and the rest of the Latin American region, as well as open up important markets in Asia.”

In previous posts, we’ve detailed Copa’s expansion and the importance of increased air service to the Panama City real estate market. Copa is now up to 12 routes in the United States with the addition of San Francisco, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Tampa.

Every new destinations means more visitors to Panama City, and more potential buyers and renters experiencing the pleasures of the city. Copa’s expansion also means more marketing dollars promoting Panama in cities around the U.S.

Copa’s decision to start offering four non-stop flights a week from New Orleans, starting this month, generated widespread coverage in The Big Easy, including this article in the Times-Picayune extolling, “Five Reasons to Visit Panama From New Orleans.” (Reason #2: “Panama is the Dubai of Central America.”)

Copa is also expanding its offerings in established markets. Starting July 2, Copa will add four more flights a week from O’Hare International in Chicago.

All these flights add up to great exposure for Panama City and all the attributes the “Dubai of Central America” can offer real estate investors in the U.S.

Duncan McGowan is president of Punta Pacifica Realty, a Panama real estate agency focused on Punta Pacifica, the exclusive neighborhood of 18 towers perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.