Copa Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 on Wednesday, July 3rd. The aircraft registration HP-9801CMP left Boeing Field, in Seattle, towards Panama City on a 7:15 hour non-stop flight.
The Panamanian carrier now has a fleet of 100 Boeing 737 jets, 67 of them 737NG (nine 737-700 and 58 737-800) and 32 737 MAX 9, in addition to the only 737 MAX 8.
Copa’s plan is to receive another six 737-8s in the coming months, not counting another 15 737 MAX 10, the largest variant of the narrow-body aircraft, which is still pending certification by the FAA.
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The Copa Airlines 737 MAX 8 is configured with 166 seats in three classes: 16 in Business, 24 in Economy Extra and 126 in Economy.
It is the same capacity as one of the 737 MAX 9 configurations, but the 737-8 offers slightly less passenger comfort.
This is because business class does not have as spacious seats while some seats on the 737-9 have greater recline. See seat chart comparison.
One of the first destinations where Copa Airlines will deploy the 737 MAX 8 will be Asunción, Paraguay, with its debut expected in September.
