TAP PORTUGAL AND COPA AIRLINES BEGIN CODE SHARE FLIGHTS
TAP Portugal, the leading Portuguese airline Copa Airlines {NYSE: CPA}, subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A., both members of Star Alliance, the leading global airline network, signed a code share agreement which will offer passengers more flight options with seamless connections through Copa’s Hub of the Americas, in Panama City, and with TAP’s important gateway to Europe through the company’s Lisbon Hub, in Portugal.
The strategic Hub of the Americas of Copa Airlines, in Panama City, will allow passengers coming from Europe fast and efficiently connections to 74 destinations in America and the Caribbean, including the most important cities of the region. Also with this code share agreement, the Latin American passengers will have more entry options to Europe traveling with TAP through Lisbon, Portugal.
Initially, TAP will place its code on Copa flights between Panama and Bogota, as well as to/from Panama and Bogota to Colombian cities such as Barranquilla, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena. Copa will place its code on TAP operated flights between Panama and Lisbon. Both Copa and TAP look forward to expand the range of the codeshare flights into the region.
“Having our Star Alliance partner COPA as a natural extension of TAP’s direct flights to Bogota and Panama through their comprehensive network of origins and destinations in Central and South America is a true value aggregator for our Customers, in so much as it will allow them a wide range of convenient and diversified travel options to a very dynamic trade, business and tourism region of the world, where TAP’s presence is growing stronger”, said Fernando Pinto, TAP Portugal’s CEO.
With this agreement, which complements and expands the route network of both airlines, the connectivity between continents will improve and promote opportunities for tourism and commercial development.
Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines said: “This important agreement between Copa Airlines and TAP Portugal is ideal for our company to continue its growth in Europe. This alliance will greatly benefit passengers since the connections between Portugal and Europe with the rest of Latin America will be strengthened, with a World-class Service and a seamless travel experience through the Hub of the Americas of Copa Airlines in Panama City.”
Passengers of Copa and TAP will enjoy the multiple benefits offered by Star Alliance, the leading global airline network, including reciprocity between the frequent flyer programs of both airlines and global recognition of the Star Alliance Gold and Silver status through the large route network that includes 1,321 destinations in 193 countries.
About TAP Portugal
TAP is Portugal’s leading airline, and member of Star Alliance, the global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach, since 2005. In operation since 1945, TAP celebrated 70 years on March 14, 2015. Its hub in Lisbon is a key European gateway at the crossroads of Africa, North, Central and South America, where TAP stands out as the international leading carrier in operation to Brazil. The company’s network currently comprises 82 destinations in 35 countries worldwide. TAP currently operates about 2,500 weekly flights in average on a modern fleet of 61 Airbus aircraft, to which add some 16 aircraft operating in PGA colours, TAP regional carrier, thus adding up to a 77 aircraft fleet in the whole. In the pursuit of its customer focused policy, TAP continuously strives to deliver safe, reliable and upgraded products & services, tailored to meet customers’ expectations. Retaining the Portuguese character of the Company’s brand and quality service as the basic concept has been the main driver of TAP strategy in most recent years. Recognized and awarded as the Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa as well as Europe’s Leading Airline to South America by the World Travel Awards in 2014, the company was also awarded as the WTA World’s Leading Airline to Africa in 2011 and 2012 and the WTA World’s Leading Airline to South America in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Voted Best Airline in Europe in 2011, 2012 and 2013 by the Global Traveler, USA, the company was also honored by UNESCO and by the International Union of Geological Sciences with the IYPE “Planet Earth Award 2010”, in the category of “Most Innovative Sustainable Product”. TAP was also voted Best Airline by Condé Nast Traveller Magazine in 2010 and Best Portuguese Tourism Company by the specialized magazine Marketeer, in 2011.
About Copa Holdings, S.A.
Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia, subsidiaries of Copa Holdings, are leading airlines in Latin America for passengers and cargo. The airlines currently offer service to 74 destinations in 30 countries in North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. Throughout more than 65 years of uninterrupted operations, they have managed to turn the Hub of the Americas, located in Panama, in the leading center of connections across the continent. They have one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry, consisting of 98 aircrafts: 72 Boeing 737 Next-Generation and 26 Embraer-190, and a punctuality of 90.66%, one of the best indicators of the industry. In 2014, Copa was awarded the prize of “Leading Airline for Mexico and Central America" ??by the World Travel Awards and was named the "most punctual airline in Latin America" ??by Flight Stats. Copa Airlines is also part of the leading global airline network, Star Alliance, providing its passengers with the possibility of reaching 1,321 destinations in 193 countries and enjoying more than 18,500 daily flights and 1,000 VIP lounges. In order to book reservations and select seats, keep a travel track record, check in for flights, print boarding passes and pay tickets through secure transactions in eleven different currencies, visit www.copa.com
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