Salvador Bahia Airport resumes Copa Airlines’ direct flights to Panama and expands connectivity with the Americas

Salvador Bahia Airport, a member of VINCI Airports, resumed this Wednesday, the 7th, Copa Airlines’ direct flights connecting Salvador to Panama. The route reconnects the Bahian capital directly to the Hub of the Americas®, in Panama, offering travelers from the state the most efficient option to reach more than 80 destinations across the Americas.

The new operation will feature four weekly flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, departing Salvador at 1:25 a.m. and arriving in Panama at 6:40 a.m.—an ideal time for morning connections to destinations in the Caribbean and the United States. The return flight from Panama to Salvador will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, departing from the Hub of the Americas® at 3:58 p.m. and arriving in the Bahian capital at 12:25 a.m. the following day.

The resumption of Copa Airlines’ operations further strengthens Salvador Bahia Airport’s international connectivity, positioning the airport as an important international hub in Brazil’s Northeast. This reflects a trend that has been consolidating in recent years, especially in 2025, with the launch of new flights to Europe, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Maurício Bacelar, Secretary of Tourism of the State of Bahia (Setur), highlights the importance of the return of the Panama flight for Bahia’s tourism. “The resumption of the Panama flight opens Bahia’s doors to the world’s largest source market of tourists, comprising northern South America, the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. This achievement is part of the Bahia State Government’s project to attract strategic flights connecting to international hubs, as was done with the France route, consolidating Bahia as a global destination connected to more than 300 destinations worldwide. This effort is preceded by the structuring of Bahia’s tourism sector, which already has a natural vocation, with investments in professional and business training, infrastructure works, and promotion of the Bahia destination in the main global source markets. That is why we are leaders in national tourism and the main gateway for international visitors in the Northeast, receiving half of all international tourists who visit the region,” he emphasizes.

“The resumption of Copa Airlines’ operations in Salvador is a strategic achievement for tourism and for our city’s economy, built collectively since the beginning of this process. This direct connection with the Hub of the Americas®, in Panama, expands the international connectivity of the Bahian capital, facilitates access to dozens of destinations, and strengthens Salvador as a gateway to the Northeast for the world. It is a step forward that reflects the great moment the city is experiencing, the result of consistent work in tourism promotion, hospitality, appreciation of our culture, attraction of investments, and coordination with the tourism industry, generating more opportunities, cultural exchange, and development for the people of Salvador and for those who visit us,” says Deputy Mayor and Municipal Secretary of Culture and Tourism, Ana Paula Matos.

“The resumption of Copa Airlines’ operations in Salvador represents a strategic advance for Bahia’s international connectivity. The direct link with the Hub of the Americas, in Panama, expands passenger access to dozens of destinations and reinforces Salvador Bahia Airport’s role as a gateway to the Northeast for the world. Infrastructure and the route’s economic impact are also key points for local authorities,” highlights Julio Ribas, CEO of VINCI Airports in Brazil.

Tickets for flights between Salvador and Panama City are already available on Copa Airlines’ website.

About Salvador Bahia Airport

Located in the capital of the state of Bahia, Salvador Bahia Airport is the first concession in the VINCI Airports network in Brazil, which took over its operation on January 2, 2018. Since then, the airport has incorporated global operational standards, aiming to offer greater efficiency, safety, and an improved travel experience for passengers. With an investment of BRL 700 million in terminal modernization and expansion works, its capacity increased by 50%, enabling it to handle up to 15 million passengers per year. In addition, it was awarded the Ethnic-Racial Diversity Seal by Salvador’s Municipal Secretariat for Reparations in recognition of its initiatives to combat institutional racism. Salvador Bahia Airport also stands out as the “Most Sustainable Airport in Brazil,” leading environmental preservation actions.

About VINCI Airports

VINCI Airports, the world leader in private airport operations, operates more than 70 airports in 14 countries. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds, and manages airports, providing its investment capacity and know-how to optimize operational performance, modernize infrastructure, manage operations, and drive environmental transition. VINCI Airports was the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy in 2016, aiming to achieve net zero emissions across its entire network by 2050.