Copa Airlines celebrates 10 years of operations at Tampa International Airport
TAMPA – Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A, and a member of the global Star Alliance airline network, celebrates 10 years of offering nonstop service from Tampa International Airport (TPA) through the Hub of the Americas, located at the Tocumen International Airport, in Panama City, Panama.
“We take great pride in our decadelong commitment to facilitating meaningful and seamless connections for thousands of passengers – uniting families, friends, and travelers with their favorite destinations,” said David DeFossey, Regional Commercial Manager – North America at Copa Airlines. “As we reflect on the past 10 years, Copa Airlines remains dedicated to fostering the economic and tourism development of the City of Tampa. We look forward to the ongoing journey of connecting travelers not only with the vibrant cultures of the Americas, but to major cities in Latin America.”
Copa Airlines began servicing the Tampa Bay area December 17, 2013. Now, with 2023 marking a decade of service, Copa continues to demonstrate its commitment to the local community connecting travelers with its extensive network of routes through the Hub of the Americas. The airline offers more international destinations within Latin America than any other airline or any other hub in the region. All flights are operated by modern Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, with the capacity to carry 16 passengers in business class and 144 in the main cabin.
“When Copa Airlines connected TPA to the nation of Panama in 2013, it was a major milestone in our efforts to increase international service, particularly to Latin American destinations,” said Joe Lopano, CEO of Tampa International Airport. “We’re thrilled to see Copa not only remain a part of the TPA family but to thrive and expand service over the past decade. We look forward to many more years of working and growing together.”
At the time of its inauguration, Tampa was Copa Airlines’ ninth U.S. destination providing the fastest, most direct and on-time service to Panama City as well as other Latin American destinations. Located in the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast, the city is known from embracing its history, celebrating culture and highlighting its exceptional charm therefore, showcasing the Sunshine State’s core. Tampa Bay is home to more than 175,000 residents from all over Latin America, and Copa Airlines is ideally positioned to continue serving this growing population.
For the past decade, Copa Airlines has served over 400,000 passengers, seamlessly connecting them through Tampa International Airport with six weekly flights. To fulfill customer´s needs during this upcoming peak travel season, Copa Airlines will increase to seven weekly flights operating to and from Tampa during the month of January 2024, returning to six (6) weekly flights in February. This increased frequency of flights not only exemplifies Copa Airlines’ unwavering commitment to enhancing travel options but also solidifies its role in promoting connectivity throughout the Americas. Copa’s current service to its Hub of the Americas offers roundtrip connections to more than 55 destinations for Tampa Bay travelers throughout Latin America.
Currently, Copa Airlines is proud to connect more than 81 cities in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean. The most on-time airline in Latin America according to the OAG Punctuality League and continues to excel at offering world-class service connecting passengers through the Hub of the Americas in Panama City. Most recently, Copa Airlines was recognized as one of the Top 15 International Airlines in the world and the only one from the Americas region in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.
The article Copa Airlines celebrates 10 years of operations at Tampa International Airport first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.