- Toronto is Copa’s first Canadian destination
Panama City, Panama, – Copa Airlines, subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A. {NYSE: CPA} today began nonstop service four times a week between Toronto, Canada, and Panama City, Panama. Copa is the first airline to operate regularly scheduled nonstop flights between Panama and Toronto, the airline’s first Canadian destination.
“Copa Airlines’ new nonstop flight not only connects two major financial and tourism centers across the continent, opening up the potential for investments, import/export opportunities and increased tourism, it also provides Canadians with ready access to business and leisure destinations throughout Latin America,” said Victor Vial, CFO, Copa Airlines.
The flight departs Toronto at 9:40 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, arriving at Copa’s Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama at 2:12 p.m. The return flight departs Panama at 5:35 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, arriving in Toronto at 11:59 p.m. Copa will operate the flight with a Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, with seating for 12 passengers in business class and 112 in the main cabin.
Airline executives hosted a launch event at Pearson International Airport for the first direct commercial flight linking Toronto to Panama City, and joined Panamanian government officials, including Vice President Juan Carlos Varela and Ambassador of Panama to Canada Francisco Carlo Escobar Pedreschi, at the Panama Invest 2011 Toronto conference to promote investments and exports in Panama. The Hon. Ed Sast, Minister of International Trade of the Government of Canada, also attended the Panama Invest 2011 event.
From its Hub of the Americas, Copa Airlines offers flights to more international destinations than any other airline from any other hub in the Latin American region. Passengers can connect rapidly and conveniently to destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, without customs/immigration waits for in-transit passengers.
-- More --
Copa’s on-board service includes complimentary meals and beverages, including wines and spirits; a 12-channel audio-visual entertainment system in Spanish, English and Portuguese, with new movies monthly and complimentary headsets; and bilingual flight attendants.
Passengers may purchase tickets at (
link) in Canadian dollars, as well as nine other currencies and can earn rewards through the OnePass frequent-flyer program shared with alliance partner United-Continental. Copa Airlines will join Star Alliance, the world’s largest global alliance, in April 2012.
The airline’s on-time performance record of more than 90 percent is one of the best in the industry worldwide. In 2010 Copa Airlines transported more than 5.2 million passengers through the Hub of the Americas.
About Copa Holdings, S.A.
Copa Holdings is a leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo services. The company, through its operating subsidiaries Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia, provides service to 55 destinations in 27 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean with one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry, consisting of 66 aircraft: 40 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft and 26 Embraer-190s. To make reservations, check seat assignment, access OnePass frequent-flyer accounts, create a trip log, print boarding passes or pay for tickets via secure transactions in 10 currencies, visit (
Link). Copa recently launched its
mobile website, , becoming the first airline in Latin America to offer travelers the ability to use electronic boarding passes. Copa Airlines will join Star Alliance in April 2012.
