Air Links Likely for Barbados and Panama

Air Links Likely for Barbados and Panama
By S. Coward

Barbados and Panama are "on the verge of cementing air links as a vital element" in their efforts to strengthen cooperation in the areas of tourism and culture.

This disclosure came last evening from Minister of Industry, Small Business and Rural Development, Denis Kellman, as he delivered an address during an official opening ceremony for the trade mission currently in Panama.

Mr. Kellman said officials had come to this stage following the successful conclusion of negotiations for an Air Services Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services during the first round of negotiations in July 2011.

He told his audience, which included business people from both countries, that as part of Barbados' strategic objectives to diversify its tourism source markets and generate new business out of Latin America, it had been pursuing the goal of securing direct air services out of Panama City by COPA Airlines since May 2009.

"COPA is seen as an ideal partner for Barbados as an airline and Panama as a destination in view of several factors, including the estimated population of 336,000 people with the means and propensity to travel to Barbados; [and] access to COPA's network that will permit significant expansion of tourist arrivals out of Central and South America," he explained.

Added to that, Mr. Kellman stated, the viability of the flight should be further supported by the presence of descendants of Barbadians who worked on the Panama Canal, as well as the Colon Free Trade area which would encourage a steady stream of Barbadian business people who now travel to that South American country.

The Minister suggested that Barbados' unique geographical position had placed it as a natural hub for the Caribbean to the United Kingdom (UK) and said it could serve as a direct and hassle-free gateway to the UK.