San Francisco to Tocumen (SFO–PTY) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
SFO–PTY is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Copa Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 3,321 miles in approximately 6h 58m. Beyond nonstop, 49 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CM Copa Airlines | 13 | 7M9 | 6h58-7h15 | Star Alliance | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · PTY: EST
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 8:00 PM in Tocumen.
US passport holders enter Panama visa-free for up to 180 days. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date of entry. A return or onward ticket is required, and immigration may ask for proof of funds ($500 or equivalent). At Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City, immigration stamps your passport. Panama also requires an online immigration affidavit filled out at migración.gob.pa within 72 hours before arrival.
The 180-day allowance is generous and makes Panama popular with remote workers and retirees. Panama City's skyline is Central America's most modern, with the Casco Viejo historic quarter contrasting the glass towers of Punta Pacifica. The Panama Canal's Miraflores Locks visitor center is 15 minutes from the city center and lets you watch ships transit. Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast is a laid-back island town. Boquete in the highlands is known for coffee farms and the Quetzal Trail in Volcan Baru National Park.
Direct flights from Miami (MIA) to Panama City run about 3 hours 15 minutes on American Airlines, Copa, and Delta. Houston (IAH) to PTY runs about 4 hours on United and Copa. Copa Airlines uses PTY as its hub with connections across Latin America. Direct service also operates from New York JFK, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, and Atlanta. Panama uses the US dollar (called the balboa, pegged 1:1). Balboa coins circulate alongside US coins. No currency exchange needed. ATMs dispense US dollars. Card payments work at most businesses. The Panama Metro runs 2 lines from Albrook to the eastern suburbs for $0.35 per ride. Uber operates in Panama City. A taxi across the city costs $3 to $8.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs from downtown San Francisco (Embarcadero, Powell St.) to the SFO station and then a free AirTrain shuttle to all terminals (30–40 min from Embarcadero, $10.45). BART also connects Oakland and Berkeley; useful for East Bay travelers. Trains run from ~4am to midnight.Taxis from downtown San Francisco cost $40–60. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) pick up in the designated area in the garage and are often $30–50 depending on surge pricing. SamTrans buses serve Peninsula cities. Highway 101 and I-280 are heavily congested during commute hours; BART is faster than driving at those times.
SFO–PTY Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SFO to PTY
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Tocumen International Airport (PTY) are connected by nonstop service from Copa Airlines. With 13 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.
SFO to PTY Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to PTY ranges from 6 hours 58 minutes to 7 hours 15 minutes. The route covers a distance of 3,321 miles (5,344 km). There are approximately 13 weekly flights outbound and 13 return, totaling 26 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
49 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 8 hours via GCM. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.