(Sun-Sentinel) Copa Airlines opened up another gateway to Latin America on Friday with the launch of nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City, Panama.
The Panamanian carrier inaugurated the new route from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport with festivities that included a gift exchange between tourism and airline officials.
Passengers departing on launch Flight 266 from Fort Lauderdale were treated to refreshments and entertained by Panamanian dancers.
“We start with four days a week and look forward to going daily very soon,” said Joe Mohan, Copa’s senior vice president, commercial and planning, adding that consumer reception to the new route had exceeded expectations.
“It’s not just Panama that we’re starting service to today,” Mohan said. “We fly [from Panama] to nine cities in Colombia, seven cities in Brazil, and what we saw there, was a tremendous amount of demand for this particular airport. [Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood] has done very well from many key countries for us.”
Copa will operate the route Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft that have 12 seats in business class and 112 in economy. From Fort Lauderdale, Flight 266 will depart at 5:44 p.m. for arrival at Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport at 8:23 p.m.
In Florida, Copa also operates out of Miami, Orlando and Tampa.
“It’s a great thing to happen here,” Miramar resident Rene Cordoba said of the Fort Lauderdale-to-Panama route. Cordoba was traveling to Panama with his daughter and niece to visit friends and family, but previously had to fly there from Miami. “This is much better and more convenient.”
Other inaugural passengers agreed.
“For us it’s very convenient. This airport is smaller and easier to handle than Miami International,” said Yelina Neumeister of Boca Raton, who was en route to Panama with husband Oliver to attend their son’s wedding. “Before, we had to travel an hour to get to Miami and it took another 30 minutes to just get inside the airport.”
For Milvia Gutierrez, tour and travel sales manager for Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach, an attendee at the inaugural festivities, the new flight is welcomed news. “It will open up opportunities for more people from Latin America to visit for leisure, business and pre-and-post cruise stays.”
Broward County tourism officials anticipate the new service will bring an estimated 15,000 passengers annually and an economic impact of more than $12 million.
“Copa has been an airline we’ve coveted for many years,” said Doug Webster, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood’s deputy director aviation. “We look forward to a very fruitful relationship.”