Copa Airlines, Panama’s flag carrier, has ordered 40 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with options for 20 more, as announced by Boeing on April 28, 2026.
The agreement, signed in Panama City, supports the airline’s plan to grow and modernize its all-737 fleet over the next eight years. Combined with 40 aircraft pending from prior commitments, Copa expects to expand its 737 MAX fleet to more than 100 planes. As of late April 2026, the carrier operated 118 Boeing 737s, including 18 MAX 8s and 32 MAX 9s, alongside older 737-700s and 737-800s, plus two converted freighters.
Deliveries of the new jets are set to begin in 2030 and complete by 2034, enabling Copa to more than double its fleet to over 200 aircraft. The airline has not specified variants, leaving flexibility for models such as the 737 MAX 8, MAX 9 or MAX 10. From its Panama City hub at Tocumen International Airport, known as the Hub of the Americas, Copa will use the efficient single-aisle jets to extend routes across the Americas and Caribbean, replacing older 737 NGs while adding capacity for high-density and longer flights.
Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron stated that the new aircraft will help expand operations and the route network while supporting economic development in Panama and the region.