(Source: Prensa) Commercial flight traffic to the Tocumen International Airport increased 16.2% to 20,075 flights, moving 1,534,922 people in the first six months of 2006, 14.9% more than the same period last year. March was the month of greater growth. The statistics were presented/displayed yesterday in the forum “Panama… Aerial Hub of the Américas”, organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Panama. According to passenger data 521,310 people passed through Panama in transit to their final destination, 507,262 people arrived in Panama, and 506,350 departed. Most of the passengers come from the North and South America, a total of 937,039 people. But arriving passengers from Europe grew 33%. The increase in European traffic is a result of increased flight traffic from Air Madrid and Iberia that operate routes with stops in Panama. The other region of growth is the Caribbean, 143,895 passengers in the last six months, up 23% from last year. Copa’s Hub of the Americas has generated a 21.1% growth in traffic from South America. Cargo and air freight traffic through the airport reached 39,054 metric tons in 4,044 flights, a drop of 17.5% which was mostly due to a change in accounting practices. Starting this year cargo in transit being transported by Copa Airlines was dropped from the report.

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AeroRepublica, subsidiary of Copa Holdings S.A. , began direct daily service from Cali to Panama City on February 14, 2006.
This new route is served with one of AeroRepublica’s brand new EMBRAER-190 aircraft with a 106 all-leather seat, single-class configuration. AeroRepublica’s flight schedule is the following: Route Frequency Departure Arrival Cali - Panama Daily 5:10 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Panama - Cali Daily 11:20 a.m. 12:40 p.m. “This flight will give Cali, a city of more than two million inhabitants, a much needed afternoon non-stop daily flight to Panama, plus instant access to the Americas through international connectivity with Copa Airlines’ network of 36 destinations in 21 countries in North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean,” said Roberto Junguito, President, AeroRepublica. “This again reaffirms our commitment to offer our passengers the most convenient way to travel, all enhanced with a superior product offering.”

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Copa Airlines, subsidiary of Copa Holdings S.A. , took delivery on August 9th of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, increasing its fleet to 33 aircraft. Copa’s fleet, one of the youngest in the Americas, now consists of 25 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft and eight EMBRAER 190s. The Boeing 737-800 is the largest airplane in Copa’s fleet, configured for 155 passengers — 14 in Executive Class and 141 in the main cabin. The comfortable aircraft has a spacious interior, large overhead luggage compartments, seats with adjustable headrests, and a 12-channel audio/video entertainment system. Copa will operate the Boeing aircraft on long-distance routes between its Hub of the Americas in Panama and various Latin American and U.S. destinations. (more)

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Travel to Central America has always been very expensive from the US. However, the trade routes into Panama have consistently provided an opportunity for discount travel airfare to and from Panama. The amount of discount is often a function of the type of cargo and the actual form of air transport you are willing to accept.

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