Copa Airlines is a pretty useful airline for those traveling to & from Latin America, given that the carrier uses Panama City (PTY) as a hub for connecting people throughout the Americas (similar to how Icelandair uses Keflavik to connect people across the Atlantic).
There has just been a massive improvement to the Copa Airlines ground experience in Panama City, thanks to the opening of the new Terminal 2. Not only is this a much nicer facility in general, but there’s also a new Copa Club, which looks like a huge improvement.
In this post:
Copa Airlines moves to Terminal 2 at PTY
As of late June 2022, the new Terminal 2 (also referred to as the South Terminal) opened at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City (PTY).
Construction on the terminal first began in 2013, and as is the case with so many airport projects, this one was significantly delayed. The terminal was first supposed to open in 2017, but was delayed by around five years (and of course it was way over budget as well).
The good news is that this not only greatly increases the capacity of the airport, but it also looks like a much more modern and competitive facility than what the airport previously had. The terminal is 116,000 square meters (1.25 million square feet), and has a total of 20 gates and eight remote stands.
Copa Airlines is the first carrier to move to Terminal 2, so effective immediately all Copa flights operate from the new terminal.
New Copa Club opens in PTY Terminal 2
With the opening of the new terminal, Copa Airlines has also opened its new airport lounge, which looks like a huge improvement over the old one. The new Copa Club Terminal 2 is 1,925 square meters (~20,000 square feet) and has a capacity for 420 people. It’s open daily from 5:30AM until 9PM.
The Copa Club is described as being “inspired by a Latin American hacienda.” The new lounge features a living room, entertainment and lounge areas, a dining room and bar, workstations, a play area for kids, an indoor terrace, showers, and more.
The Copa Club is open to all Copa business class passengers, Star Alliance Gold members, and Priority Pass members. On top of that, access can be purchased at the door.
Below you can find some pictures and a video of the new Copa Club in Panama.
Bottom line
Copa Airlines’ ground experience in Panama City has been greatly improved, thanks to the opening of the new Terminal 2, plus the opening of a new Copa Club. Between this and Copa increasingly offering flat bed business class on its Boeing 737 MAXs, flying with the airline is an increasingly good option.
What do you make of Panama City’s new Terminal 2?
what a big disappointed - the new terminal y very nice and the longe is very spacious but that's it. The food was mediocre, they only served little sandwiches and they didn't have any other food - that's all - for the size and the look what an shame - I've been stopping in Panama on my way to Colombia, it was that bad that I'm starting searching other options to fly to Colombia -...
what a big disappointed - the new terminal y very nice and the longe is very spacious but that's it. The food was mediocre, they only served little sandwiches and they didn't have any other food - that's all - for the size and the look what an shame - I've been stopping in Panama on my way to Colombia, it was that bad that I'm starting searching other options to fly to Colombia - Also the customer service on my way from Bog - Panama was so bad, I asked for a glass of wine and the flight attendant ignored my request to decided to have lunch and it took 45 minutes to get my wine.
As others have noted, the physical space is nice (aside from a lack of monitors with flight status), but the soft product is so strange. The food offering is quite literally more meager than what I found in some tiny West African airports. No "extras" or interesting features of any kind. It is all quite odd. Also, since the new terminal is still under construction, you basically aren't finding anything to eat in the terminal, period.
Just visited the new copa club in PTY. Open bar was great. Food was a hard pass.
My last trip was BOG-PTY-JFK. The inbound flight from Bogota arrived at T2 but the one going to JFK departed from T1. The downside is that no shops are open at T2 and just a Starbucks with a huge line to get even a coffee. COPA fares are cheap but need to improve the overall experience.
My return flight to Las Vegas was on 23 July, the 2nd day the new terminal was open. It’s a beautiful, spacious terminal but had few amenities or food options. I attributed this to it just being opened and anticipate it will change over time. The Copa Club is well designed, has comfortable furniture, great views, and yes and free liquor bar. But the food was like a buffet at a cheap wedding. The offerings...
My return flight to Las Vegas was on 23 July, the 2nd day the new terminal was open. It’s a beautiful, spacious terminal but had few amenities or food options. I attributed this to it just being opened and anticipate it will change over time. The Copa Club is well designed, has comfortable furniture, great views, and yes and free liquor bar. But the food was like a buffet at a cheap wedding. The offerings were a mozzarella tomato biscuit, a chicken salad biscuit, celery and carrot sticks with dip, and hummus and chips. I entered the club about 1:30pm and assumed the food offerings were the lunch choices and would improve later as a dinner hour approached (I had 5 hours to kill). But no, the food choice stayed the same until the end. The staff couldn’t keep up with demand either as certain choices would run out completely before returning some time later.
Hopefully, Copa will improve on their food offerings and make this a truly great club.
TERMINAL 2
Minimal breakfast, like the most basic free breakfast at a cheap Airport Hotel.
Uncomfortable chairs everywhere. Very minimal staff, leading to used dishes and glassware everywhere in the lounge. Bar not open at breakfast at 7:00 a.m. you're left with a coffee machine, a minimal soda machine, no juice of any kind.
Though it's new, light and airy, this Lounge is a major disappointment. It's like a quiet cafeteria. They...
TERMINAL 2
Minimal breakfast, like the most basic free breakfast at a cheap Airport Hotel.
Uncomfortable chairs everywhere. Very minimal staff, leading to used dishes and glassware everywhere in the lounge. Bar not open at breakfast at 7:00 a.m. you're left with a coffee machine, a minimal soda machine, no juice of any kind.
Though it's new, light and airy, this Lounge is a major disappointment. It's like a quiet cafeteria. They could have done so much better, and should have done so much better given how long it took to open this terminal.
Business class is great, just did a round trip in biz class. It has ruined me for normal flying is coach.
Traveled to Panama last month with Copa, Terminal 2 is really nice. Looking forward to going back soon to check out the lounge.
OK the ground experience is better, but doesn’t the inflight experience still suck, even in business class?
Was there twice last week.
Its a huge improvement except food. The offerings make tou think you are at a regional lounge of a small airline. If you want to eat outside there are not too many options either. For a hub that connects North - South America and Europe PTY in food terms is a huge let down.
Alcohol is still free in the Copa Club so there is that.
Looks really lovely.
Surprised at the logo at the front entrance is virtually identical to United Club: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/United_Club_Logo.jpeg
That actually exited me. Flying with them later in the year.
Huge improvement. The old Copa Club was tiny, overcrowded, had slow internet, almost no food, and little to drink. Will they close the old one down?
The old PTY Copa Club suffered from two problems: Firstly, it was too smal and, secondly, the food offering was close to zero (perhaps, a few crackers, if you were lucky). The new lounge is much bigger and therefore should resolve the first issue. But it does not necessarily resolve the second one ...