Copa Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 after months-long delays. The Panama-based airline — which currently only operates Boeing 737-700s, 737-800s, and 737 MAX 9s — initially planned to introduce the aircraft into revenue service this month.
The smallest certified 737 MAX variant is now slated to debut in Copa’s network on Sept. 2, 2024. Nearly two months behind schedule, the aircraft’s inaugural flight is set to operate from Panama City to Quito per Cirium Diio schedule data.
Copa Airlines incorpora hoy su primer Boeing 737 MAX 8.
La aeronave, con registro HP-9801CMP, partió a las 11:14 hora local de Seattle Boeing Field ?? con destino Ciudad de Panamá ??
[Foto de ca350] pic.twitter.com/ZSjCZVsLth
— Vuelos y Spotters ✈ (@SpottersArg) July 3, 2024
According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data, Copa has seven 737 MAX 8s on order, along with 15 of the larger yet-to-be-certified MAX 10s.
In Copa’s latest schedule, the carrier plans to ramp up 737 MAX 8 operations in September to 155 flights, including to U.S. destinations of Chicago O’Hare, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. This plan is down substantially from the 323 flights planned in the airline’s earlier schedule iterations.
100th Aircraft
The airline’s first 737 MAX 8 flew from Boeing Field to Panama City on Wednesday. The aircraft is registered as HP-9801CMP, according to Flightradar24.
The new aircraft is also the 100th in Copa’s fleet. The carrier has nine 737-700s, 58 737-800s, and 32 737 MAX 9s.
Copa did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the aircraft delivery. In May, a spokesperson from the airline confirmed it was still planning to operate the type later this year.
