NEW ORLEANS – Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA), and member of the Star Alliance global airline network, started to offer direct non-stop service from New Orleans to Panama City, Panama, with quick connections to more than 50 locations in Central and South America, last summer.
Recently, Copa has been recognized by FlightStats, a leader in global flight and airport information services, for the third consecutive year as the top on-time airline in Latin America and Colombia. Copa reps said the award is a symbol of the airline’s commitment to its passengers and serves as a point of differentiation for Copa in the aviation industry worldwide.
Copa Airlines’ 2015 on-time performance rank of 91.02 percent in Latin America as a whole and 92.73 percent in Colombia surpasses its 2014 rates of 90.67 percent and 90.72 percent, respectively.
“This award is a result of the dedication and effort of the entire Copa Airlines team, whose principal objective is to meet our passengers’ needs,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines. “Our coworkers have made on-time performance their personal focus and commitment, which enhances our world-class service and makes possible the connectivity we offer through the Hub of the Americas en Panama.”
The ranking from FlightStats, recognized internationally for the accuracy of its aviation research and data collection, establishes Copa Airlines’ position as one of the leading airlines worldwide in on-time performance. Copa reps said the achievement represents the work of Copa Airlines’ air and ground personnel in each of the 73 destinations in 31 countries the airline serves in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
“FlightStats is proud to announce that in 2015 Copa Airlines once again is Number One in on-time performance among major airlines of Latin America,” said Jim Hetzel, vice president of Aviation and Distribution for FlightStats. “This achievement demonstrates Copa Airlines’ commitment to operational excellence and customer service.”
Copa reps said Copa’s recognition from FlightStats as the “Most on-time airline in Latin America” in 2013 and 2014 established the airline’s reputation for on-time performance and flight completion, contributing to its leadership position in the region and placing the company among the three top on-time airlines in the world.
“To have received this award for the third consecutive time is a great point of pride and we want to share our excitement about this great accomplishment with the entire country,” said Heilbron.
The FlightStats On-time Performance Service (OPS) Awards recognizes airlines and airports around the world that deliver the highest percentage of flights to their arrival gates within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time.
Copa also began operating two weekly flights between Belize City and Panama City, Panama, on Dec. 8, 2015. With the addition of Belize, Copa Airlines’ route network will total 75 cities in 31 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, including every Central American country.
“Copa Airlines is very pleased to announce this new destination, which strengthens our route network and leadership in the region, and allows us to offer better connectivity and world-class service to all of Central America through the Hub of the Americas in Panama,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines.
Belize offers a wide variety of tourist attractions. Located on the Caribbean Sea, the country is known for the diversity of its islands and cays, with crystalline waters and white sand beaches. Belize is considered a scuba divers’ paradise because of its impressive underwater sites, including the famous Great Blue Hole, whose waters reach a depth of up to 145 meters, and the largest coral reef barrier in the Western Hemisphere.
This Central American country is noted for its Mayan influence, the verdant Cayo District in the western part of the country, important archaeological sites such as the Xunantuhich ruins, and the twin cities of Santa Elena and San Ignacio. Other tourist attractions include St. John’s Cathedral, the Government House (House of Culture), the Yarborough Cemetery, the Swing Bridge and the Marine Terminal.
“Copa’s flight through the Hub of the Americas will provide Belize with efficient connections to Central and South America and the Caribbean, areas with which it shares strong commercial, educational, religious, diplomatic and tourist ties,” Heilbron added. “This connectivity will create enormous opportunities for tourism and commercial development for this interesting Caribbean country, while making it easier for the region’s tourists to enjoy all that Belize has to offer.”
The twice-weekly Copa flight CM 280 will depart Panama Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:29 a.m., arriving in Belize City at 12:52 p.m. Return flight CM 281 will depart Belize City on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2:17 p.m., arriving at the Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City at 5:34 p.m. All times are local; flight duration is approximately 2 hours, 20 minutes.
Copa Airlines will operate the direct flight to Belize using a modern Embraer 190, with seating for 94 passengers — 10 in business class and 84 in the main cabin. The aircraft is configured with two seats on each side of the aisle and no middle seat, adding to passengers’ comfort.
From the Hub of the Americas in Panama, Copa Airlines offers flights to more international destinations than any other airline from any other hub on the continent. The Belize – Panama flight is timed to offer the most convenient connections to Sao Paulo, Brazil; San Jose, Costa Rica; Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin, Colombia; Santiago, Chile; Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador; Managua, Nicaragua; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Havana, Cuba; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Lima, Peru. Connecting passengers are not required to make immigration or customs stops in Panama and baggage is checked to the final destination.
