RDU takes flight to Panama City this summer with Copa Airlines

This summer, planes will be taking off from RDU to head to Panama City.

On Friday, the head of Copa Airlines talked to Raleigh business leaders about how they’ll make that happen.

In February, RDU made the announcement that travelers can soon take direct flights to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City, Panama, on Copa Airlines. Copa will become RDU’s 18th airline, and Panama City will be its 10th international destination when service begins in June.

Iva Daughtry and her brother Ken Stanley come out here a couple times a week to watch the planes come and go.

"I just like to see them moving in and out and what they’re doing," Ken Stanley,Raleigh said.

"You think about how heavy it is and staying in the air. It’s amazing to me," Iva Daughtry, Knightdale said.

The physics of flight aren’t the only thing that gets Iva’s brain burning with questions.

"You wonder where they’re going and where they’re coming from," Daughtry said.

The airline will begin making direct flights to Panama City on June 21. Travelers can make the trip to Panama City on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

At just under 4 hours, this new direct flight makes Panama even more accessible for travelers in our region.

"And when there's direct connectivity, people fly, people visit. People do business," Pedro Heilbron, Copa Airlines CEO said.

And those connected with the airport say, Panama has plenty to offer in return.

"We're excited about the connectivity because of our ag business here in North Carolina. They can sell their products and services," Michael Landguth, RDU President/CEO said.

This announcement is another in a series of new flights from the airport. Direct flights to Germany and Mexico are also coming to RDU in June and July.

This is the latest airline to contribute to RDU's expansion. In 2024, the airport saw a record breaking number of spring break travelers – 1.2 million. That’s almost a 7% increase from this past March.