Thursday, July 30, 2009

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – Copa Airlines, subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A. [NYSE: CPA] and its CEO Pedro Heilbron were honored with the Airline Business Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the two top recognitions presented every year by the internationally renowned Airline Business magazine.

The Airline Strategy Awards were founded in 2002 to identify and recognize the best in boardroom leadership of the aviation industry.

 “Few airlines and people have shaped an entire region’s aviation industry like this year’s Airline Business Lifetime Achievement Award winner Copa Airlines and Pedro Heilbron,” he added.

Heilbron accepted the award on behalf of Copa Airlines’ more than 4,200 employees during a recent ceremony celebrated in London.

“Not too long ago it would have been hard to believe that Latin America would ever be home to some of the most successful airlines in the world,” Heilbron remarked. “Thanks to the hard-working men and women who are part of the Copa Airlines’ family and to their dedication to creating a better travel experience for our passengers, Copa has become the airline of choice for many Latin Americans.”

When Copa started expanding the Hub of the Americas in Panama many years ago, it was nearly impossible to travel between the major cities of Latin America, Heilbron explained.

“Today our airline plays a major role in helping Latin Americans grow their business, vacation in a neighboring country or visit family members living abroad,” he said. “Each and every one of the employees who have helped shape Copa Airlines’ success – from ramp agents to pilots and our excellent management team – is a recipient of this prestigious award.

The awards, now in their eighth year are designed to recognise the crucial role that management talent play in shaping the success of the industry and individuals alike.  The seven main awards cover the main functions that make up a successful airline leadership team, including special recognition for the regional airline sector.

Airline Business works with the global aviation practice of Spencer Stuart, the leading international executive search firm, to create a confidential shortlist of senior executives or teams and airlines who have excelled over the previous year.  Views are canvassed from a range of key opinion formers around the world as well as from nominations received.  But the final decisions rest with our respected panel of international judges, in a session chaired by the Airline Business Editor and facilitated at their London offices by Spencer Stuart.

The final Airline Business Award is presented by the magazine to an individual and airline who has made a sustained contribution to industry strategy.

Copa Holdings, through its Copa Airlines and Aero Republica operating subsidiaries, is a leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo service. Copa Airlines currently offers approximately 144 daily scheduled flights to 45 destinations in 24 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.  In addition, Copa Airlines provides passengers with access to flights to more than 120 other international destinations through code share agreements with Continental Airlines and other airlines. Aero Republica, the second-largest domestic carrier in Colombia, provides service to 12 cities in Colombia as well as international connectivity with Copa Airlines’ Hub of the Americas through flights from Bogota, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Medellin and Pereira. Additionally, Aero Republica has direct daily flights to Caracas, Venezuela from Cartagena and Medellin, Colombia. 

For more information, visit www.copaair.com.