The most punctual airline in Latin America will operate in Floripa Airport and now reaches 85 destinations in 32 countries in the Americas

Copa Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance global airline network, received its first flight at Florianópolis International Airport in the early hours of today. Trips linked to Panama provide connections with cities in the Americas and the Caribbean. The airline with punctuality above 90%, one of the best brands in the segment worldwide, attested by international consultancy, intends to offer a world-class experience to passengers in Santa Catarina and the region. At the time, the company announced that from September 2024 it will increase the frequency of flights on the new route from the current three to four per week.

“At Copa Airlines we maintain our commitment to connecting the Americas. The inauguration of the new route in Florianópolis, Brazil, not only promotes cultural and economic exchange between the country and the rest of the continent, but also boosts tourism and business in the important regions in which we operate. Visitors will be able to more easily discover everything that Panama and Florianópolis have to offer”, says Pedro Heilbron, executive president of Copa Airlines.

Copa Airlines operations total 85 destinations, in 32 countries in the Americas. In the United States alone, the airline is present in 16 cities, notably New York, Orlando, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. There are also flights to destinations in the Caribbean, such as Aruba, Curaçao and Saint Maarten.

“We are very honored to be part of this milestone, which is the unprecedented connection between Santa Catarina, the Americas and the Caribbean. Within our purpose of shortening distances and facilitating connections, there is also the desire to contribute to the growth of the places where we take off and land”, emphasizes Copa Airlines Country Manager, Raphael de Lucca.

Copa Airlines' competitive advantage is the Hub das Américas®, an air connection center through which 360 of the airline's daily flights pass, with practical and convenient services at Tocumen International Airport, in Panama. There, stopovers are quick, as there is no need to go through customs or immigration.

The Hub of the Americas® allows passengers departing from Magic Island directly to Panama to easily connect with a new flight to the USA, Mexico and Cuba, among others. This is a more agile solution, awaited by Santa Catarina residents for years.

“We are writing a new story with this direct section, which promises to make our travels easier and open countless opportunities for Santa Catarina around the world. I am sure that thousands of tourists in Panama, Mexico, the United States, Canada, among others, will want to come and see our Serra Catarinense and, in the summer, all the natural beauty of the most beautiful beaches in the country”, says the governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello.

Currently, the flight frequency is three times a week: on Wednesdays, Fridays and Mondays, departing Florianópolis at 01:25 am (local time) and arriving in Panama at 06:30 am (local time).

On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, there is a departure from Panama City, scheduled for 15:23 pm (local time), with arrival in Florianópolis at 00:22 am (local time).
“This achievement is the result of strong work by the government of the State of Santa Catarina, led by governor Jorginho Mello and partners Floripa Airport and Copa Airlines. For Santa Catarina, this connection brings the opportunity to promote our beauty, culture and hospitality to the markets connected by the World Cup”, comments the Assistant Secretary of State for Tourism of Santa Catarina, Catiane Seif.

“We are experiencing a historic moment in the operations of Zurich Airport Brasil and Florianópolis International Airport. The arrival of the World Cup and the unprecedented connection with the Caribbean and the Americas elevates Santa Catarina to a new tourist level and, as a consequence, contributes to economic development. A route that strengthens our position as the main gateway to the State”, says the CEO of Zurich Airport Brasil, Ricardo Gesse, who manages Zurich International Airport. Floripa.
 
The Copa Airlines operation in Florianópolis becomes the 7th in Brazil, which already includes São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Manaus, Brasília and Porto Alegre (temporarily suspended). The country is the company's main air market in Latin America, with 90 weekly flights. 

"Santa Catarina is experiencing a unique moment with this new intercontinental flight. This Copa Airlines flight opens the doors to tourism and business, strengthening and enhancing the state's economy", states the state secretary of Ports, Airports and Railways, Beto Martins.

Copa Airlines also offers the Stopover program as a differentiator, which allows passengers to enjoy the unique natural, gastronomic, cultural and architectural beauties of Panama for up to 7 days, at no additional cost to the airfare. It's an incredible opportunity to visit two destinations in a single trip.

“This is a strategic expansion to further spread the beauty of Panama, in addition to reinforcing the country as a bridge capable of uniting and connecting people who travel throughout our continent. We are convinced that the people of Santa Catarina will greatly benefit from this exchange of people that the new route will provide”, celebrates the National Manager of Copa Airlines, Raphael de Lucca.

Copa Airlines was recognized by Cirium as the “Most Punctual Airline in Latin America in 2023”, with a punctuality rate of 89,46%, positioning itself among the three most punctual airlines in the world and maintaining leadership in the region. performance. Additionally, the airline was named one of the 15 best international airlines in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards 2023, being the only one from the Americas region on the list. It was also recognized, once again, for the ninth consecutive year, with the SKYTRAX award, as the best airline in Central America and the Caribbean in 2024.

About Copa Airlines 
 
Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, is a leading airline in the transport of passengers and cargo in Latin America. Operating for 75 years, it established the Hub of the Americas®, in Panama City, as the main one on the continent. It has one of the industry's newest and most modern fleets of Boeing 737-800 NG and Boeing 737 MAX9, serving countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, and offers punctuality with performance above 90%, one of the best brands in the industry. segment across the world. To plan your trip, manage your reservations, purchase tickets securely in six currencies, use Web Check-in, and find information about travel policies and immigration requirements, visit the website.