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Copa Airlines - For the sake of the route network

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Today, Copa Airlines from Panama is one of Latin America's leading airlines in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Its hub in the Americas, strategically located at Tocumen International Airport, offers more destinations and connections than any other hub in Latin America and is the best-connected airport in the region.

Copa consistently achieves a punctuality rate of around 90 percent. The airline has been named the most punctual airline in Latin America by FlightStats twice in a row.

Copa serves 74 airports in North and South America. "With our new generation Boeing 737 fleet, we can reach any airport in the Americas non-stop from Panama," Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Holdings and Copa Airlines, told Connoisseur Circle at the Star Alliance Meeting in Chicago last week.

Copa has been a Star Alliance member since 2012. With the addition of flights from alliance partner Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Panama, there are ideal connections from Europe to Latin America. "That's why we won't be introducing our own long-haul connections and are relying on partnerships from overseas, such as with Air France-KLM, Iberia or Emirates," says Pedro Heilbron.

However, one of the world's most successful airlines is also feeling the effects of the current economic crisis. "I assume that the important economy in Brazil, for example, will remain weak in 2016. Our fleet will therefore remain at a size of around 100 aircraft and will not be expanded next year. In Brazil, we had to discontinue the connection to Campinas; instead, the aircraft will now be deployed to San Francisco."

The fact that Copa is well positioned is shown by the fact that it not only generates a turnover of 2.4 billion US dollars, but also works very efficiently. "We have the best cost structure of any airline in Latin America. And when the economy weakens, as it is now in some markets, we will push even harder on our cost efficiency."

One of the most modern fleets in Latin America currently helps with this. In addition, its renewal is a constant topic. Eleven more Boeing 737s and 63 Boeing 737 MAXs, the latest technical achievement of this aircraft type, have been ordered.

"In future, we will only operate routes that make sense, generate profit and where the market is also developing. Copa will continue to grow profitably," says Heilbron.

During our last site visit to Panama City, we noticed that the state also supports Copa's strategy. Panama's ingenious geographical position is the perfect interface for an aviation hub. For this reason, the airport is constantly being adapted to the needs of the country.