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Panama City, Panama - December 16, 2011 -- Copa Airlines, subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A. {NYSE: CPA} today begins daily nonstop service between Chicago O'Hare and Copa's Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama, Republic of Panama.
Chicago is Copa Airlines' sixth destination in the U.S. and one of nine new destinations the airline - the fastest-growing in Latin America - has launched throughout the Americas in 2011.
"Copa's new five-hour flight is the only nonstop Chicago-to-Panama service and reduces travel time compared to other connecting flights," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines. "Our service not only connects two major business and tourist destinations, Chicago and Panama, but also is a gateway to more than 50 destinations in Latin America including destinations in countries such as: Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela."
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The flight departs Chicago's O'Hare International Airport at 8:09 a.m., arriving at Copa's Hub of the Americas in Tocumen International Airport in Panama City at 2:28 p.m. The return flight departs Panama at 6:34 p.m., arriving in Chicago at 11:06 p.m. Copa is operating a Boeing 737-700 "Next-Generation" aircraft on the flight, with seating for 12 passengers in Business Class and 112 in the main cabin.
From the Hub of the Americas, passengers can make convenient connections to destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, without customs/immigration waits for in-transit passengers. Copa offers more flights to more international destinations within Latin America than any other airline from any other hub in the region. This high degree of connectivity has been a key factor in the decision of many multi-national firms, research centers, and international organizations to establish headquarters in Panama, Heilbron explained.
"On behalf of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), we are pleased to welcome Copa Airlines to O'Hare International Airport," said CDA Commissioner Rosemarie S. Andolino. "This new service by Copa will provide many benefits to the Chicago business community. With Chicago being home to 28 Fortune 500 companies and several others with business connections to Latin America, Copa's operations will support increased tourism, business and economic opportunities between Chicago and Panama City, as well as increased connectivity to destinations throughout Latin America.
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.
The airline operates one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry and its on-time performance of more than 90 percent is among the best worldwide. Passengers may purchase tickets at copaair.com in U.S. dollars, as well as 10 other currencies and can earn rewards through the OnePass frequent-flyer program shared with alliance partner Continental Airlines (which will become United Airlines' MileagePlus program in 2012). Copa Airlines will join Star Alliance, the world's largest global alliance, in April 2012.
Copa began service to a total of nine new destinations in 2011: Chicago; Toronto, Canada, its first Canadian destination; Cucuta, Colombia; Asuncion, Paraguay; Monterrey, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Porto Alegre and Brasilia, Brazil; and Nassau, Bahamas. In June, the airline expanded operations at its Hub of the Americas, growing from four to six connecting banks, providing passengers with more flight options during the day and bolstering the Hub leadership in the region in schedules and frequencies. The airline's expansion plans include the delivery of 23 new aircraft in the next two years.
From the U.S., Copa Airlines also offers nonstop service to Panama from Miami, New York City (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Washington, D.C. (Dulles), and Orlando.
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