Copa Airlines announced Nonstop Flights from Panama to Boston with Connections to Central and South America

Copa Airlines Flights Daily to Panama with Connections to Central and South America

BOSTON, 2013-07-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Massachusetts welcomed Copa Airlines to Boston Logan International Airport today as the Star Alliance member began offering daily nonstop service from Panama’s Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City with convenient connections to more than 55 other destinations in Latin America.

Boston was the largest U.S. market without nonstop service to Latin America and Massport, which owns and operates Boston Logan, estimates that more than $190 million in ticket sales were generated in 2012 by passengers traveling between Boston and the Latin American cities served by Copa. Copa is a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A., {NYSE: CPA}

“Nonstop service to Latin America will open up new opportunities to allow Massachusetts businesses to compete in the 21st century global marketplace,” said Governor Deval Patrick.  “The service will increase tourism here at home and connect our residents with friends and family in Latin America.

”The approximately 5 ½-hour flight 718 is scheduled to depart Panama each day at 11:46 a.m., and arrive in Boston at 6:16 p.m. Flight 719 is scheduled to depart Boston Logan International Airport daily at 9:54 a.m., arriving at Copa’s Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City at 2:28 p.m.

“The arrival of Copa Airlines and their non-stop service from Boston to Latin America not only connects our many diverse residents and visiting students to their families but increases our global presence in business and tourism,” Mayor Thomas Menino said. “We welcome them to our city and congratulate Massport for helping Boston continue its strong growth.”

“Copa Airlines is very pleased to begin its new daily nonstop service, which will provide Boston-area business and leisure travelers the fastest and most direct way to fly from Boston to Panama, as well as unsurpassed connectivity throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines.

In addition, as a member of Star Alliance, Copa Airlines will provide passengers around the world with more benefits and travel options throughout the Latin American region.  Overall, the 28 member airlines of the Star Alliance network offer more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,328 airports in 195 countries, with passenger access to more than 1,000 VIP lounges.

“Our partnership with Copa Airlines grows the global reach of Boston and Logan by connecting New England and all of its diversity with Latin America,’’ said Thomas P. Glynn, Massport CEO. “Copa offers seamless connections to more than 55 Latin American destinations from its hub in Panama City and in 2012 more than 400,000 passengers traveled between Boston and the Latin American cities served by Copa.’’

The new Copa service is eligible to participate in Massport’s International Air Service Incentive Program, which applies to new nonstop international service to destinations in Asia, Central America, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. The program includes landing fee credits and joint advertising opportunities. Massport’s action is not designed to subsidize a service that is not likely to be self-sufficient, but to help minimize the initial business risk of the air carrier. In doing so, Massport also expects to improve utilization of Boston Logan’s international Terminal E, as Asia, Latin America and Middle East flights would operate during current off-peak hours.  Massport is undertaking the program to compete with other airports around the country, most of which offer some type of financial incentive to attract new international air service.

Copa’s Hub of the Americas in Panama City offers flights to more international destinations than any other airline from any other hub in the Latin American region. Passengers can make convenient connections to destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, without customs/immigration waits for in-transit passengers. In particular, Copa’s new Boston-Panama flight offers the most convenient connections to Brazil, Colombia; San Jose, Costa Rica; Lima, Peru; and Santiago, Chile.

Copa will operate a Boeing 737-700 Next-Generation aircraft on the flight, with seating for 12 passengers in Business Class and 112 in the main cabin.  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.

The airline operates one of the youngest fleets in the industry and its on-time performance above 90 percent is among the best worldwide.  Passengers may purchase tickets at copa.com in U.S. dollars, as well as 10 other currencies and can earn rewards through the MileagePlus frequent-flyer programs shared with alliance partner United Airlines.

“Copa continues its steady and profitable growth in 2013, strengthening our leadership position in Latin America through our Hub of the Americas – the most successful and efficient hub in Latin America,” Heilbron said.  In each of the last five years Copa has grown by an average of 16 percent in available passenger seat miles and 12 percent in daily flights to/from Panama.

Panama will become Logan’s 33rd international destination and Boston is the 65th destination served by Copa. The airline currently flies nonstop from Panama to eight US destinations: Miami, New York City (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Washington, D.C. (Dulles), Orlando, Chicago (O’Hare), Las Vegas and Boston.

About Copa Holdings, S.A.
Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia, subsidiaries of Copa Holdings, are leading Latin American providers of passengers and cargo services. The airlines provide service to 65 destinations in 29 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, operating one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry, consisting of 86 aircraft: 60 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft and 26 Embraer-190s. Copa Airlines joined Star Alliance in June 2012. For more information, visit www.copa.com.

About Boston Logan
Boston Logan, 15 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 73 domestic and 32 international destinations and in 2012 handled 29.3 million passengers. Boston Logan is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, the airport spent $4.5 billion on a modernization program that includes new terminals, public transportation access, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility.  The airport generates $7 billion in total economic impact each year. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/bostonlogan and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/bostonlogan.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion annually, and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. No state tax dollars are used to fund operations or capital improvements at Massport facilities.  For more information please visit massport.com.

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