Panama’s Copa Airlines enhances operations
Panama-based Copa Airlines is adding more Boeing 737-700 aircraft to its fleet to tally 16 of those planes in coming months and turn the carrier into one of the region´s most advanced airlines, the company’s deputy marketing director Jorge Garcia pointed out. In his opinion, Copa’s front office is determined to keep its direct flights with 30 cities in 20 countries.
In an exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital during a recent visit to Havana for the opening of the company’s commercial office in the Barcelona Building at the Miramar Trade Center of the Cuban capital, Mr. Garcia explained the move shows the Panamanian airline’s confidence in future of Cuba as a tourist destination.
Mr. Garcia added that Copa Airlines is beefing up its routes to North, Central and South America, as well as to the Caribbean, from its hemispheric hub at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City.
The Panamanian executive praised the help provided to his company by Cuban tourism authorities that –as he put it- “have swung Cuba’s doors wide open for us.” Mr. Garcia underscored his personal satisfaction with the Cuban staff dealing with Copa’s Havana station. “All these people are respected and looked up at both here in our office and in our headquarters back in Panama,” Mr. Garcia expressed.
Copa Airlines’ big break in the Cuban market occurred in 1995. Eight years later, the company has buttressed both its image and the kind of quality service it provides to a increasing number of passengers who are picking it as their top choice for whatever destination they fly to.
