Copa Continues to Make Life Better for Panama-Bound Anglers

We’ve loved our experiences on Copa Airlines to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge – both the international portion of the trip, and then the domestic hop from Panama City to the city of David. Panama’s flagship carrier continues to make life better for tuna-bound anglers -- recently announcing the following increases in flight frequencies from the US to and from Panama City’s Tocumen Airport this winter.

• Panama City – Atlanta: From December 13, 2026, through January 14, 2027, increase from 5 to 6 weekly.

• Panama City – Austin: From December 18, 2026, through January 8, 2027, increase from 4 to 5 weekly (previously they’d planned to remove the 5th weekly flight).

• Panama City – Boston: From December 18, 2026, through January 9, 2027, increase from 12 to 13 weekly.

• Panama City – Chicago O’Hare: From December 14, 2026, through January 9, 2027, increase from 14 to 17 weekly.

• Panama City – Denver: From December 15, 2026, through February 23, 2027, increase from 6 to 7 weekly.

• Panama City – Las Vegas: From December 18, 2026, through January 22, 2027, increase from 5 to 6 weekly.

• Panama City – Los Angeles: From December 16, 2026, through January 14, 2027, increase from 21 to 24 weekly.

• Panama City – Miami: From December 2, 2026, through February 14, 2027, increase from 49 to 51 weekly, with additional changes during the period: 54 weekly from December 14, 51 from December 30, 54 from January 7, 49 from January 28, and 51 from February 5.

• Panama City – Orlando: Effective December 22, 2026, increase from 45 to 49 weekly.

• Panama City – Raleigh/Durham: From December 15, 2026, through January 7, 2027, increase from 4 to 5 weekly.

• Panama City – San Francisco: From November 20, 2026, through February 27, 2027, increase from 11 to 12 weekly, with a further increase to 14 weekly from December 14.

• Panama City – Tampa: Effective October 25, 2026, increase from 14 to 16–17 weekly.

• Panama City – Washington Dulles: From December 9, 2026, through January 28, 2027, increase from 21 to 23 weekly, with a further increase to 24 weekly from December 25.

They’re helping out Canadian anglers, as well:

• Panama City – Montreal: From December 22, 2026, through December 31, 2026, and then again from January 3, 2027, to January 7, 2027, increase from 7 to 10 flights weekly.

• Panama City – Toronto Pearson: From December 21, 2026, through January 9, 2027, increase from 7 to 11 flights weekly.

These are seasonal schedule changes, but they give anglers more options when planning winter travel through Panama.

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Better In-Flight Connectivity, Too

Copa is also working to improve the in-flight experience by installing Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet. The airline's CEO said installations were proceeding at approximately three aircraft per week, with completion expected in the second quarter of 2027. Availability on any particular flight will depend on the aircraft assigned to it.

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Turn One Fishing Trip Into Two

As a reminder, Copa also expanded its Panama Stopover program this year, extending the permitted stay from seven days to as many as 15 days.

That creates an interesting opportunity for anglers headed somewhere else in Central or South America. If you're flying through Tocumen on your way to another fishing adventure, perhaps for golden dorado in Argentina or peacock bass in Brazil, you may be able to spend several days in Panama along the way without paying additional airfare for the stopover itself. Program rules, taxes and other fees may apply, so check the terms when booking.

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What Does This Mean for You?

There's a lot to like about the direction Copa is heading. Since our first trip to Panama in April 2021, we've watched Tocumen grow into an increasingly important connecting hub for travelers throughout the Americas. The airport handles nearly 21 million passengers a year, and in our experience, it's been a reliable gateway to the fishing adventures that await beyond Panama City.

More seasonal flights mean more options for getting there, while better in-flight connectivity and the expanded stopover program add further reasons to consider Copa when planning your next fishing trip.

For anyone heading to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge or connecting through Panama on the way to another destination, it's worth checking the latest schedules before booking. The right itinerary might make it easier to get to the fish—and perhaps squeeze in another adventure along the way.