LOS CABOS, Mexico — The Los Cabos International Airport marked a major milestone on Thursday after receiving its first direct flight from Panama City, officially launching Copa Airlines’ new route and opening an unprecedented chapter in regional air connectivity.
The inaugural flight departed Panama at 9:09 a.m. and landed in Los Cabos at 12:27 p.m., where it was greeted by airport officials, Copa Airlines representatives, and tourism leaders from Baja California Sur. The new service makes Los Cabos directly connected to Central America for the first time.
“This new route opens significant opportunities for Los Cabos,” said Francisco Villaseñor Reyes, the airport’s administrator. “Copa Airlines is creating a strategic link between the Pacific region, South America, and the Caribbean. It’s a result of strong coordination between local authorities, the Tourism Trust and the airline.”
Copa’s Panama–Los Cabos service will operate three times a week — Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays — using Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which can seat up to 160 passengers.
Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Trust, said the new flight is expected to boost both tourism and the local economy, noting that advance bookings from South America are already up 34% for the year.
From January to November 2025, the airport handled 6.8 million passengers, including 4.2 million international travelers — keeping Los Cabos among the busiest hubs in Mexico for foreign arrivals.
Copa Airlines CEO Pedro Heilbron said the new route strengthens regional integration. “Every new destination we add helps promote tourism, connect cultures and expand travel options across the Americas. This route makes it easier for travelers to reach one of Mexico’s top Pacific destinations while reinforcing Panama’s role as a major regional hub,” he said.
Representing the state’s tourism department, Deputy Secretary Fernando Ojeda added that the connection offers “a strategic opportunity to diversify tourism markets, attract investment and strengthen commercial ties with Central and South America.”
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, which operates the airport, said the launch underscores its commitment to improving air connectivity and supporting regional growth through high-quality airport infrastructure.
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