US Embassy Alert - June 10 Copa Flight

[Denese A Rodgers]

June 10 Copa Commercial Humanitarian Flight

The Embassy has identified an additional flight, operated by Copa Airlines (flight number – CM4050), scheduled for June 10.  The flight will have a limited number of seats available.  Any traveler with the appropriate passport/visa to permit entry into the United States who wishes to depart Panama is eligible to purchase a ticket.  Travelers should carefully plan their onward travel as hotel options in Washington, D.C. may be limited.  Once in the United States, all domestic travel arrangements are the sole responsibility of the traveler.

The Embassy is aware that the Government of Panama has approved in-bound flights from the United States to Panama to provide Panamanian citizens and other qualified travelers the opportunity to travel to Panama.  Questions about qualifications necessary and approval for passengers on these flights should be directed to the Embassy of Panama, in Washington, D.C.  The U.S. Embassy in Panama will continue announcing all flights approved by the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for departure to the United States.

NOTE – With many seats still available on the June 3 Spirit Airlines flight and the June 10 Copa airlines flights, we are not planning any additional humanitarian flights to the United States at this time.  We encourage you to purchase your tickets as soon as possible to ensure you are able to return to the United States.  We encourage you to be prepared to remain in Panama for the next 30-60 days, or perhaps more, if you are unwilling or unable to take these flights.

The currently authorized, upcoming humanitarian flights are:

·     June 3 United Airlines (SOLD OUT), departing Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport at 12:30 p.m. for Houston, TX, to arrive at 4:39 p.m.

·     June 3 Spirit Airlines, departing Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport at 1:00 p.m. for Fort Lauderdale, FL, to arrive 5:00 p.m.

·     June 10 Spirit Airlines(SOLD OUT), departing Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport at 1:00 p.m. for Fort Lauderdale, FL, to arrive 5:00 p.m.

·     June 10 Copa Airlines, departing Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport at 7:00 a.m. for Washington, D.C., to arrive 12:47 p.m.

For additional information about these flights and to make reservations please contact Spirit Airlines and Copa Airlines directly.  Copa began ticket sales for this new flight on Thursday, May 28.  The Embassy encourages you to check their website regularly for updates.

For flights that are full, continue checking directly with the airlines (United’s website at https://www.united.com/, or Spirit’s website at https://spirit.com/) for any openings due to cancelations.

There are no guarantees for these flights or the space available.

The Embassy encourages interested U.S. citizens and LPRs to purchase early and forward your purchase confirmation email to the Embassy immediately at PanamaCityUSCitizen@state.govso that we can assist you with the issuance of salvoconducto passes.

The Embassy will continue its efforts to identify and seek approval for future humanitarian flights to the United States as long citizens indicate the desire to evacuate.

Messages to U.S. citizens with updates on repatriation flights are sent daily to citizens living in Panama while the Embassy is assisting with approved flights from Panama to the United States.  Messages providing updated COVID-19 case numbers and information about the measures taken to combat COVID-19 in Panama will now be sent once per week, unless there are significant changes requiring immediate updates.

Consult the Embassy’s website (https://pa.usembassy.gov/) for additional information on the situation in Panama and the Department of State’s COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.