Copa Airlines and Tourism Authorities Inaugurate “Sala Panamá” at Tocumen Airport: An Experience Inviting Transit Passengers to Discover Country
Copa Airlines, in collaboration with the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), PROMTUR Panama, and Tocumen International Airport, has inaugurated “Sala Panama.” This new experiential, digital, and interactive space is strategically designed to capture transit passengers at the Hub of the Americas, inviting them to discover the country’s attractions and extend their stay through the Panama Stopover program.
A Digital Experience Hub in the Heart of Tocumen
Sala Panama is not just a lounge; it functions as a technological platform for tourism promotion located in the connecting concourse between Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2) at Tocumen International Airport. It will be available to transit travelers year-round, initially operating Monday through Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The space seeks to transform the layover experience for the millions of users transiting the airport terminal annually through various interactive tools:
- Interactive Map: Displays 13 iconic destinations across Panamanian geography, ranging from Panama City and its historic sites to beach, nature, culture, and gastronomy options.
- Immersive Content: Passengers have access to immersive audiovisual material inspired by the country’s primary landscapes.
- Customized Itineraries: Visitors can design and plan personalized 3, 5, 7, and up to 15-day itineraries based on their specific interests.
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Strategic Synergy: The Impact of the Panama Stopover Program
The opening of this lounge directly complements the Panama Stopover program. This initiative allows Copa Airlines passengers to include a stopover in the country within their original itinerary, giving them the opportunity to enjoy two destinations on the same trip at no additional airfare cost.
The goal of this alliance is to leverage high air connectivity to boost the national economy. For the year 2026, the program projects reaching 250,000 visitors, consolidating tourism as a key driver for economic development, job creation, and the growth of the local tourism industry.
The inaugural event was supported by the country’s top officials and leading executives from the airline and tourism industries:
“With the Sala Panama experience, we want every passenger transiting through the Hub of the Americas® to have a first connection with our country… This experience allows us to showcase part of Panama’s cultural, natural, and tourism wealth, and motivate more travelers to turn their layover into an actual visit,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines.
For her part, Engineer Gloria De Leon, Administrator of the ATP, highlighted the importance of inter-institutional cooperation: “Tourism is one of the best demonstrations that opportunities grow when we work together, because connecting efforts also means connecting development, employment, and growth for the country.”
Finally, Jose Ruiz Blanco, General Manager of Tocumen International Airport, emphasized the terminal’s traffic conversion potential: “More than 20 million passengers pass through Tocumen every year, and many of them know very little about Panama… With Sala Panama, we want to change that: spark curiosity and get more travelers to turn their connection into a visit to our country.”
The traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony that officialized the opening of the space was also attended by Jose Raul Mulino, President of the Republic of Panama, and Salomon Shamah, Director General of PROMTUR Panama.
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