DALLAS — Copa Holdings, the parent company of  Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines (CM) and Colombian airline Wingo (P5), has released its third-quarter results.

The firm recorded a net profit of US$146.0 million, which dipped by 22.1% from the same period last year. An operational profit of US$173.7 million and an operating margin of 20.3% were recorded, down 15.3% and 3.3%, respectively.

The carrier stated that weaker currencies in Latin America, increased regional capacity, and a suspension of flights from Panama to Venezuela starting at the end of July contributed to the drop in revenue and operating margins.

Operating costs per available seat mile, excluding fuel, fell 1.6% to 5.7 cents in the quarter compared to the same period in 2023, while revenue per available seat mile fell 10.1% to 11.0 cents, owing to an 8.7% decrease in passenger yields and a 1.6 percentage point decrease in load factor.

Increasing Costs

While fuel costs were reduced compared to the same period last year, all costs, except for sales and distribution expenses, increased, demonstrating that the industry is far from immune to the rising cost burden that many airline executives have recently lamented.

In a press release, the organization hailed the results as "the product of a solid and well-executed business model, which is built on operating the best and most convenient network for intra-Latin American travel."

Copa Airlines uses its Panama City Tocumen (PTY) hub's central location to provide connectivity between North and South America, particularly in city pairs with insufficient demand for direct service.

Solid Balance Sheet

The company maintained a strong balance sheet, closing the quarter with US$1.3 billion in cash and short-term and long-term investments, accounting for 36% of total revenue for the previous twelve months. Total debt at the end of 3Q24 was US$1.9 billion, while the Adjusted Net Debt to EBITDA ratio remained at a leading 0.6 times.

Looking ahead to 2025, overall capacity is forecast to grow by 7% to 9%, while unit prices excluding fuel are expected to rise by a percentage point or two.