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Copa Airlines (CM) Guide

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Where Copa flies from Panama City, which aircraft it uses, what its cabins and bag allowances look like, and how to check in for a CM flight. Ask a question
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In short

Copa Airlines is the flag carrier of Panama, flying an all-Boeing 737 fleet from Tocumen International in Panama City to 88 destinations across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Panama City serves as a one-stop connection point between the Americas. Copa is a Star Alliance member and runs ConnectMiles. Cabins are Business and Economy.

Copa Airlines is the flag carrier of Panama and a Star Alliance member, headquartered in Panama City. Owned by Copa Holdings, which also owns Wingo, it connects the Americas through its hub at Tocumen International Airport.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Copa Airlines. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Copa Airlines (Compañía Panameña de Aviación) is the flag carrier of Panama, owned by Copa Holdings and based in Panama City, with its hub at Tocumen International Airport. It suits travellers connecting between North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean through a single stop in Panama. Panamanian investors and Pan American World Airways launched it in 1944, and it started flying in 1947 with three Douglas C-47s on domestic routes.

The Hub of the Americas

Almost every Copa trip changes planes at Tocumen, nicknamed the Hub of the Americas after a 1992 alliance with TACA. In March 2026 the airline served 88 destinations in 32 countries, from the United States, Canada and Mexico to Central America, South America and the Caribbean. San José in Costa Rica is a focus city.

Check transit rules for Panama before travel and leave enough time between flights.

Wingo and Copa Airlines Colombia

Copa Holdings also owns AeroRepública in Colombia, which operates as Wingo and Copa Airlines Colombia.

Baggage and connecting in Panama

Baggage allowance varies by route and fare family, so check yours on copaair.com before you pack. Because almost every trip connects in Panama, a single ticket keeps your bags checked through and protects you if the first flight runs late.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
Copa official website

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  1. Copa official website
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Good to know

  • Founded1944

Everything you should know

Airline codes

CM · CMP

IATA · ICAO · callsign “COPA”

Copa’s IATA code is CM, its ICAO code is CMP, and the radio callsign is COPA. Type CM and your flight number into a status search to follow a Copa flight.

Key facts

Main hub

Panama City (PTY)

Tocumen International

Network

88 destinations

North America · Central America · South America · Caribbean

Copa’s Hub of the Americas at Tocumen in Panama City connects 88 destinations in 32 countries across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Business

and Economy

two cabins on an all-Boeing 737 fleet: Business and Economy. Every Copa aircraft has a Business cabin. Business passengers get separate check-in, priority boarding and baggage handling, and lounge access, and on the 737 MAX the seats either recline or are lie-flat, depending on the aircraft. Economy includes 24 Economy Extra seats with more space. On a long route such as North America to southern South America, check the seat map for a lie-flat aircraft.

Compare cabins

Good to know

Copa Holdings also owns the Colombian low-cost airline Wingo. Copa’s loyalty programme is ConnectMiles, and its official website is copaair.com.

Frequent flyer

ConnectMiles

Member of Star Alliance

Points from Copa flights go into ConnectMiles, and you can usually earn and spend with the other Star Alliance airlines too.

How it works

Start a new search

Before you book Copa, run the same dates through bookingMentor: rival airlines on routes from PTY appear in one set of results.

Safe travels on Copa.

Select dates

At a glance

Copa Airlines (IATA: CM, ICAO: CMP) is the flag carrier of Panama, based at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. Founded in 1944 and a Star Alliance member, it flies an all-Boeing 737 fleet to 88 destinations in 32 countries across the Americas and the Caribbean.

Key facts about Copa Airlines
HeadquartersPanama City, Panama
Fleet typesBoeing 737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9
Frequent flyerConnectMiles
Official websitecopaair.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
Copa serves the places below according to its published network. Routes are added, paused and rescheduled, so confirm the current Copa timetable when you search. Search flights

United States & Canada

Panama City (PTY) departures15 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

Copa flies about 107 aircraft, all Boeing 737s: the 737-700, 737-800 and 737 MAX family. One aircraft family keeps maintenance and crew training simple and means the cabin is similar on most routes. Two 737-800 freighters fly for Wingo Panama.

  • Boeing 737-700 Narrow-body · 9 in service Shorter routes
  • Boeing 737-800 Narrow-body · 58 in service The workhorse of the network
  • Boeing 737 MAX 8 Narrow-body · 6 in service Newer jets on routes across the Americas
  • Boeing 737 MAX 9 Narrow-body · 32 in service Longer routes across the Americas

Cabin classes

Two cabins are on sale at Copa: Business and Economy. Not every Copa route has all of them.

Business All flights

Business class

Business class on Copa’s Boeing 737s.

Priority servicesLounge access

Economy All flights

Standard seat

Economy with personal screens on new 737-800s and the MAX.

Seat-back screens on newer aircraft

ConnectMiles

Copa’s loyalty programme. Join ConnectMiles online before you fly so the trip counts.

ConnectMiles members earn miles on Copa and Star Alliance flights and redeem them for award flights and upgrades.

Copa left SkyTeam in 2009 and joined Star Alliance in June 2012. Partners include United Airlines, Avianca and Lufthansa. Copa Club lounges are run jointly with United, and the flagship lounge is at Tocumen.

ConnectMiles fully replaced Copa's link with United MileagePlus on 1 July 2015. Premier status brings priority check-in and boarding, complimentary upgrades and discounted lounge memberships.

Baggage allowance

On Copa, the bag allowance follows your fare type, cabin and route, and the exact figure is printed on your CM e-ticket.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

Copa sets one allowance for short-haul and another for long-haul, and its premium cabins always carry more than the cheapest economy fare. Check the route-by-route figures on copaair.com.

Pro tip: if your CM fare comes without a hold bag, buy one in your booking before you fly; airport prices for extra bags are usually higher.
Travel day

Online Check-in

Getting through check-in for Copa is simpler in this order. Start online and finish at bag drop.

  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Online check-in for CM flights is on the official Copa website. You need the CM booking reference or e-ticket number and the passenger’s surname.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    International Copa passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires. Domestic CM passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Copa closes its check-in counters before departure, and passengers who miss the cut-off can be refused boarding. Leave room for bag drop and security at PTY.

    Check your deadline
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Hand in checked luggage at the Copa counter or bag drop, then keep your boarding pass and passport ready for security and the gate.

    Copa counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official Copa website.
Check in with Copa
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Cheap tickets

How to find a cheaper Copa fare without giving up the bag or seat you need.

  1. 01

    Be flexible with your Copa dates

    If your dates can move, look at CM flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Travel around the busy dates

    Holiday peaks push up fares on routes from Panama City. Shift your Copa trip just outside them where you can.

    School holidays · festivals
  3. 03

    Check what each Copa fare includes

    Look at the next Copa fare up: if it bundles a hold bag or easier changes, it may beat the basic fare plus extras.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Book busy Copa routes early

    On busy Copa routes such as PTY to San José, booking several weeks ahead usually leaves more fares to choose from.

    Popular routes
  5. 05

    Join ConnectMiles

    Add a ConnectMiles number to your booking so points from your CM flights are credited.

    Before you fly

  6. Ready to compare fares?

    Search Copa alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search Copa flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying Copa Airlines.
Answers checked against Copa’s official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.

Getting there

Copa Airlines has been a member of Star Alliance since 2012. This means ConnectMiles members can earn and use miles with partners such as United Airlines, Avianca, Lufthansa and Air Canada.