Copa Airlines Retires Its Last Boeing 737-200; Airline Concludes Its Fleet Renovation Plan, Celebrates Having the Youngest Fleet in the Americas.PANAMA CITY Panama City, city (1990 pop. 34,378), seat of Bay co., NW Fla., on St. Andrews Bay; inc. 1909. A Gulf Coast resort with amusement parks and excellent fishing, it is also a port of entry. The city's industries produce paper, clothing, and chemicals. , Panama -- Copa Airlines celebrates today the retirement of its last Boeing 737-200, making its fleet the youngest in the Americas. The aircraft has been replaced with a new "Next Generation" Boeing 737-700, which completes Copa Airlines' fleet renovation plan. Copa's fleet now consists of 21 Boeing 737-700 and 800 aircraft. In May 2005, Copa will take delivery of a new B737-800. Panamanian government officials, top airline executives, travel agency representatives, tourism professionals, customers, media and Copa Airlines employees celebrated the retirement of the last B737-200, part of Copa's fleet for more than eight years and in service for more than 23 years, at a ceremony at Tocumen International Airport Tocumen International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen) (IATA: PTY, ICAO: MPTO) is an international airport located 15 miles (24 km) from Panamá City, Panamá. . "The retirement of this aircraft represents the end of an important stage for the company, one that allowed us to position Copa for the development we have experienced in the last five years," said Pedro Heilbron Pedro Heilbron (born 1958 in Colon, Panama) is, since 1988, the CEO of Copa Holdings S.A., the parent company of Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines and Colombian carrier AeroRepública. He received an MBA from George Washington University and a B.A. from Holy Cross. , CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Copa Airlines. "Today, Copa operates with Boeing 737-700 and 800 `Next Generation' aircraft, which incorporate the latest in commercial aviation technology and allow us to continue providing world-class service to our passengers." The old 737-200 aircraft contributed improved engines, more advanced electronics and simpler maintenance to Copa's fleet. These aircraft made an important contribution to Copa Airlines' success, as well as the development of commercial aviation and the Panamanian tourism industry, officials say. Built in 1981, the Boeing 737-200, with registration number HP-1322, joined Copa's fleet in 1996 -- the last B737-200 the airline acquired. During its years of service with Copa, the aircraft flew a total of 17,370 hours, covering 6.5 million miles, to destinations such as Caracas, Venezuela; Havana, Cuba; San Jose, Costa Rica; Tegucigalpa, Honduras and Cancun, Mexico. Copa Airlines (www.copaair.com), which began service in 1947, today flies to 31 destinations in 20 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean from its Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama. Copa offers flights to 120 other international destinations through codeshare agreements with Continental and Mexicana airlines. Copa and Continental also share a strategic alliance partnership that includes joint participation in Continental's award-winning frequent flyer frequent flyer Hospital practice A popular term for a Pt who is regularly admitted to a particular ER or health care facility, for various reasons program, OnePass(R). A leader in aviation industry technology, Copa is the first airline in the Americas to utilize the Vertical Situation Display An electronically generated display on which information on aircraft attitude and heading, flight director commands, weapon aiming and terrain following can be presented, choice of presentation being under the control of the pilot. (VSD VSD abbr. ventricular septal defect VSD ventricular septal defect. VSD Ventricular septal defect, see there; also virtually safe dose ) flight deck instrument and has one of the best on-time performance records worldwide. SkyTrax classified Copa as "Best Airline in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean" in April 2004, based on a passenger survey. In June 2004, America Economia Magazine named Copa one of the "25 Best Employers in Latin America Best Employers in Latin America is a list created by the global human resources firm Hewitt Associates and magazine América Economía that features the top 25 companies in the region. ." Copa Airlines offers nonstop service to Panama City from four U.S. cities: daily from New York city New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , twice daily from Miami, daily from Los Angeles, and four times a week from Orlando. For more company information, visit www.copaair.com. --PHOTOS AVAILABLE mmeza@globalhue.com |
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