Details

Published: July 17 2014

Panama City, Panama, July 11, 2014 - Copa Airlines {NYSE: CPA} subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A., and a member of Star Alliance, today began nonstop service four times a week from its Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the airline's fourth destination in Florida, its 10^th in the U.S., and its 67^th destination overall. 

"Our new flight from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport expands travel opportunities for business passengers, vacationers and families to Panama and to more destinations throughout Latin America than ever before," said Joe Mohan, Senior Vice President, Commercial and Planning, Copa Airlines. "Our customers can take advantage of our award-winning service and convenient access from Panama to nine cities in Colombia, seven in Brazil; Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador; Santiago de Chile; Lima, Peru; and San Jose Costa Rica, among others."

Broward County aviation officials estimate that passengers made over 128,000 round-trip flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Latin American destinations in 2013.  Copa's new nonstop Fort Lauderdale-Panama flight increases connectivity to more than 55 business and leisure destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.  From Panama, Copa flies to more international destinations than any other airline from any other hub in Latin America.

"The Copa Airlines flight between Panama City, Panama and Fort Lauderdale will offer a great new option for travelers flying between Latin America and South Florida," said Kent G. George, Director of Aviation, Broward County Aviation Department. "Copa's route structure matches perfectly with the diverse international population in Broward County. Broward's large number of Colombians, Brazilians, Peruvians, and Venezuelans will now have the opportunity to travel and visit friends and family on this world-class airline."

The airline is operating the flight to Panama with a Boeing 737-700 Next Generation with 12 business class seats and 112 economy seats. Copa flight 266 departs Fort Lauderdale on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 5:44 p.m., arriving at Copa's Hub of the Americas at 8:23 p.m. Flight 265 will depart Panama at 11:46 a.m. the same days of the week, arriving at 3:49 p.m. 

"Copa Airlines' new flight from Panama City increases Greater Fort Lauderdale's potential International tourism growth by leaps and bounds," said Carlos M. Molinet, Sr. Vice President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Greater Fort Lauderdale's strong position as a gateway to Latin America reaching key feeder markets is further strengthened with Copa's flight, creating a South Florida hub for travelers visiting friends and family and also connecting on to other cities throughout the U.S."

 Copa's on-board service includes complimentary meals and beverages, including wines and spirits; a 12-channel audio-visual entertainment system in English, Spanish and Portuguese, with new movies monthly and complimentary headsets.  Flight attendants are bilingual. Passengers may earn miles through the MileagePlus frequent-flyer program. Copa's website, copa.com, is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese; passengers may purchase tickets in U.S. dollars, as well as seven other currencies. In-transit passengers making connections do not have immigration/customs waits and baggage is checked to the final destination.

Copa has now become Florida's premiere transportation connection to Latin America, offering direct nonstop service between Panama and four Florida destinations - Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando and Tampa - more than any other Latin American airline. 

Established in 1947, Copa Airlines transported more than 11 million passengers in 2013.  Copa's on-time performance above 90 percent is among the best worldwide. The airline earned "Best Airline in the Central America and Caribbean Region" honors at the 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards.