This week, Panama City-based Copa Airlines received its twenty fifth Boeing 737 MAX, continuing the carrier’s expansion strategy for its all-Boeing fleet. With a twenty fifth aircraft delivered, the carrier has now received nearly one-third of its total 737 MAX order. Up to now, all deliveries have been for 737 MAX 9 jets.
In April, the airline made one other push for fleet expansion, expanding its 737 MAX order book by 15 units. The carrier maintains orders for 36 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft, with the firm distribution of the 2 variants yet to be confirmed by the airline.
Moreover, the carrier has also placed an order for 15 737 MAX 10 aircraft. As reported by Airways Magazine, this week’s delivery is one among six more units of the 737 MAX 9 that might be delivered to Copa this yr alone.
Fleet Utilization
Copa’s current 737 MAX 9s are the most important aircraft within the carrier’s fleet, capable of accommodate as much as 174 passengers. Thus, the airline is more likely to deploy the jet on a few of its highest-demand routes.
In July 2023, Copa’s hottest route will connect Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY) and São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in Brazil. Flying 155 frequencies between these cities throughout the month, with a complete of 26,010 seats in each direction, the brand new 737 MAX aircraft will definitely be used on this route.
The airline’s next two hottest routes also each connect the Central American nation to South America, with flights between PTY and Buenos Aires’s Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) and Uruguay’s Carrasco International Airport (MVD) each seeing 93 frequencies this month.
Nonetheless, despite the identical variety of frequencies, Buenos Aires will see 15,870 seats while Uruguay will see barely fewer at 15,830. Thus, Copa’s larger MAX 9 will likely be found barely more often within the Argentine capital city.
Copa Airlines in 2023
Alongside the carrier’s fleet expansion strategy, Copa has continued to make a concerted effort to grow its route network. Summer 2023 has seen the airline start service at multiple different destinations across the Americas.
Photo: Miguel Lagoa/Shutterstock.
Just last week, the carrier accomplished its inaugural flight to Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Later this yr, in mid-September, the airline will begin operations at Jacinto Lara International Airport (BRM) in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
Equipped with a young and ever-expanding fleet, the airline is about to proceed connecting Panama City to the remainder of the Americas and potentially beyond. Moreover, with an increasing number of units of longer-range 737 MAX aircraft joining Copa, the carrier can now begin to think about serving destinations it never could have before.