Copa Airlines Reconsiders Order of 15 Boeing Planes

Copa Airlines may cancel its pending order for 15 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft as the Panamanian carrier re-evaluates its long-term fleet strategy. Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines, indicated the airline is satisfied with its current combination of 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 jets, citing operational performance and flexibility across routes.

“We are not sure we are going to take it,” Heilbron said in reference to the MAX 10 during comments published by Flight Global. “We are quite happy with the combination of the MAX 8 and MAX 9. We might just stay that way, but a decision has not been made yet.”

The original commitment to acquire the 737 MAX 10 was announced at the 2017 Paris Air Show. However, certification delays have pushed the aircraft’s expected approval by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to 2026, years behind schedule. Boeing has not commented publicly on the potential cancellation by Copa.

As of the end of 2Q25, Copa Airlines operated a fleet of 115 aircraft, which includes:

• 67 Boeing 737-800

• 9 Boeing 737-700

• 32 Boeing 737 MAX 9

• 6 Boeing 737 MAX 8

• 1 Boeing 737-800 Freighter

The airline uses the MAX 9 primarily on medium and long-haul routes, including flights from Panama City to Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. MAX 8 aircraft are gradually replacing the 737-800 on short and medium-haul routes within Central America and the Caribbean.

“Once Boeing stopped producing the -800, the logical transition was to the MAX 8; same size, same configuration,” Heilbron explained.

While the MAX 10 offers greater seating capacity and range, Copa’s route structure currently aligns with the performance profile of the MAX 8 and MAX 9. The airline has not indicated when a final decision will be made regarding the pending MAX 10 order.