Background on Los Cabos and Copa Airlines
Los Cabos, BC. Known for its luxury aviation, wellness, fishing, and golf, Los Cabos is set to welcome its first direct flight from Copa Airlines on December 4, departing from Panama. The new route is expected to bring passengers from Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.
Flight Details
With three weekly frequencies and a five-hour flight, the aim is to attract around 25,000 annual passengers from Central and South America.
“Los Cabos is a comprehensive destination with various segments beyond sun and beach, offering numerous activities. We now see a significant opportunity to diversify the source countries for tourists coming to Los Cabos and Mexico,” said Mauro Arredondo, the airline’s general manager.
Official Ceremony and Background
On Tuesday, Rodrigo Esponda, the director general of the Los Cabos Tourism Trust (Fiturca), joined Arredondo for the official launch ceremony of this new connection.
“When I joined Fiturca nine years ago, I was surprised by the high concentration of US visitors, which posed a significant risk due to relying on one primary market. We needed diversification,” Esponda explained, sharing his experience in the now-defunct Mexican Tourism Promotion Council (CPTM).
Copa Airlines’ Existing Routes
Currently, Copa Airlines offers direct flights from Panama to Mexico City, Cancun, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Esponda provided data on the growth of regional countries that previously required layovers, such as Trinidad and Tobago arriving via New York or Central American countries partially via the US and Mexico City, and South American nations like Colombia and Brazil, primarily arriving through Mexico.
Connecting Central and South American Countries
These countries will now be linked via Copa Airlines’ renowned hub in Panama, enhancing connectivity and reducing travel time for passengers.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Copa Airlines? Copa Airlines is a Panamanian airline and the largest in Central America, offering extensive regional and international flights.
- Why is this new route significant for Los Cabos? The new direct flight from Panama to Los Cabos aims to diversify the source countries for tourists visiting the destination, reducing dependence on a single market and mitigating risk.
- Which countries will benefit from this new connection? Passengers from Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador will now have a more direct travel option to Los Cabos.
- What are Copa Airlines’ existing routes from Panama? Copa Airlines currently operates direct flights from Panama to Mexico City, Cancun, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
- How will this new route impact travel time for passengers from Central and South America? By connecting these regions via Copa Airlines’ hub in Panama, travel time and layovers will be significantly reduced.
