CUSTOMER PROFILE hub of opportunity Frontiers June 2014 19 Copa Airlines relies on 737s to connect Panama to booming Latin America market By Jim Proulx A major factor in business success is being in the right place at the right time. Copa Airlines is a prime example. Copa’s Hub of the Americas is based at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. Seated at the juncture of two vast continents, Copa connects travelers throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. And it is doing so using Boeing’s best-selling Next-Generation 737. “The Next-Generation 737 has been fundamental to Copa’s efforts to create the premier airline in Latin America,” said Pedro Heilbron, chief executive officer of Copa Airlines. “A better product means a better travel experience for our passengers, in terms of comfort, performance and reliability. We appreciate how Boeing constantly works with us to give us an even better 737 to meet our operational needs.” The 737 forms the backbone of Copa’s 91-airplane fleet. The airliner operates more than 60 737-700s and 737-800s. Heilbron said the 737 is key to Copa’s strong on-time performance and reliable schedule—and cost savings. Copa was the first carrier in Latin America to offer the 737 Boeing Sky Interior, the first in Latin America to operate advanced RNP (required navigation performance) procedures and the first in Latin America to add the Blended Winglet to its 737 fleet. In April, Copa also became first in Latin America to install the new Split Scimitar winglet, developed by Aviation Partners Boeing, on a 737-800. Founded in 1947 as Compañía Panameña de Aviación, S.A., Copa began service as the national carrier of Panama by operating domestic flights to three cities around the country using Douglas DC-3s. Today, all Copa’s flights from Tocumen are international. The airline serves daily scheduled flights to 69 destinations in 30 countries. Its subsidiary, Copa Colombia, operates domestic flights within Colombia, plus several regional international routes— with more planned for the future. In 1998, Copa Airlines began a strategic alliance with Continental Airlines, conducting joint marketing and code-sharing arrangements and frequent-flyer programs. That alliance is reflected in Copa’s livery. It is a similar livery to that of United, which merged with Continental in 2010. Heilbron said Copa will continue to do what it does best—use its growing fleet of 737s to expand service in the fast-growing Latin America market while focusing on low cost and superior service. In 2013, Copa earned “Best Airline in Central America and the Caribbean” honors from Skytrax. “Copa Airlines has been a great partner for Boeing for decades,” said Van Rex Gallard, vice president, Sales, Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Copa has taken the great efficiency, reliability and low-operating cost of the Next- Generation 737 and has used it to build a great product for its passengers, a great asset for the nation of Panama and a great investment for its shareholders.” n jim.proulx@boeing.com GRAPHIC: The 737 forms the backbone of the Copa Airlines fleet. Shown is a 737-800 with a new post-production Split Scimitar winglet. BOEING
Frontiers June 2014 Issue
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