Copa Holdings SA (CPA) surged 6.16% in after-hours trading on Wednesday following the release of its first-quarter 2026 financial results, which showcased significant year-over-year improvements in profitability and operational efficiency.

The Latin American airline reported a net profit of $212.5 million, representing a 20.5% increase in earnings per share compared to the same period last year. Operating margin expanded to 24.6%, up 0.8 percentage points, while total operating revenue grew by 17% year-over-year. The company also achieved a load factor of 87.2%, reflecting strong demand and efficient capacity management.

Additional positive factors included a $45 million share repurchase program representing approximately 1% of outstanding shares, continued industry-leading on-time performance of 91.6%, and disciplined cost control with operating cost per available seat mile excluding fuel decreasing by 1.0%. These results demonstrate the resilience of Copa Holdings' business model amid a higher jet fuel price environment.