Copa Airlines Increases Order for Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 Aircraft
December 08 2009 - 7:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
PANAMA CITY, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Copa Airlines,
subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) today announced an
order for two Boeing 737-800 airplanes to be delivered in the
second half of 2010. This new order brings to 15 airplanes the
number of Boeing Next-Generation 737s that Copa Airlines has
ordered this year. In July, Copa placed an order for 13 airplanes
to be delivered between 2012 and 2015. The order also included
eight options for deliveries between 2015 and 2017. These aircraft
will be outfitted with Boeing's signature "Sky Interior" featuring
new 787-style modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals that
provide passengers with a greater connection to the flying
experience. The new airplanes will also benefit from performance
enhancements expected to result in a 2 percent reduction in fuel
consumption by 2011 through a combination of airframe and engine
improvements. The Next-Generation 737 is the newest and most
technologically advanced airplane in its class. It flies higher,
faster and farther than previous models and competitors. In
addition, its flight deck features the latest liquid-crystal
flat-panel displays and is designed to accommodate new
communications and flight-management capabilities. "The
Next-Generation 737 plays a major role in achieving our goal of
offering our passengers world-class service, the most extensive
route network in Latin America and one of the youngest fleets in
the continent," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines. "With
these aircraft we will continue to consolidate and strengthen our
leadership position in the Latin American airline industry,
providing our passengers a truly attractive product and our company
a highly efficient aircraft with superior economics." Copa was the
first carrier in the Americas to incorporate blended-winglets on
its 737s. All of its Next-Generation 737s use the distinctive
curved wing ends, which improve fuel efficiency and lift while
reducing engine wear and carbon dioxide emissions. Copa also was
the first in the region to order Next-Generation 737s with the
Vertical Situation Display (VSD) system, which provides pilots with
an easy to understand flight-path view. Copa operates from Tocumen
International Airport, a time-saving hub on long routes between the
United States, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. It
flies five of the world's longest 737 routes from there -- to
Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago, Sao Paulo and Los Angeles --
thanks to the 737's exceptional range. Copa Holdings, through its
Copa Airlines and Aero Republica operating subsidiaries, is a
leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo service.
Copa Airlines currently offers approximately 144 daily scheduled
flights to 45 destinations in 24 countries in North, Central and
South America and the Caribbean. In addition, Copa Airlines
provides passengers with access to flights to more than 120 other
international destinations through code share agreements with
Continental Airlines and other airlines. Aero Republica provides
service to 12 cities in Colombia as well as international
connectivity with Copa Airlines' Hub of the Americas through
flights from Barranquilla, Bogota, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena,
Medellin and Pereira. Additionally, Aero Republica has direct
flights to Caracas, Venezuela from Cartagena and Medellin,
Colombia. CPA-G DATASOURCE: Copa Holdings, S.A. CONTACT: Patricia
Roquebert of Copa Holdings, S.A., Panama, +1-507-304-2672 Web Site:
http://www.copaair.com/
Copyright