Copa Airlines and Tour of the Americas Announce Strategic Alliance; Copa Airlines Named Official Airline of the Tour of the Americas.

Business Editors & Travel Writers

PANAMA CITY, Panama--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2001

Copa Airlines has signed an agreement with the Tour de las Americas (TLA), to be the exclusive airline for staff transportation during the 2001-2002 season.

Copa also will receive recognition as the official airline of the only professional golf tour in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The TLA begins its second season with the support of one of the fastest growing airline companies in the region. The tour will visit a total of 14 countries, including the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama, during which more than $2 million (U.S.) in prizes will be awarded at more than 20 events.

"The TLA is very happy that Copa Airlines is sponsoring the golf tour," said Gustavo Leite, CEO of the Tour de las Americas. The professional Latin American golf tour will make a stop in Panama in early 2002. "Golf is the fastest-growing sport among corporate executives. Sponsorship of this tour will put Copa in close contact with frequent flyers. We are impressed by the service and routes of this airline, which is a point of pride for Latin America. No other airline gets us to the destinations we need to go as does Copa Airlines."

"We are very pleased to sponsor the TLA professional tour in the Americas," said Claudio Gonzalez Espinosa, Director of Marketing for Copa Airlines. "Our route system, extending from the U.S. to Argentina, meets the needs of all the travelers for this great event. Our sponsorship gives us the opportunity to develop personal ties with the staff and the players."

In addition, Copa Airlines will have a presence in all the televised coverage of the events seen on Pan American Sports Network (PSN), the leading sports channel in all of Latin America and the Caribbean.

During the season, Copa Airlines' customers in countries where the tour has events will have the opportunity to participate in Pro-Am tournaments.

Copa Airlines (www.copaair.com) serves 30 destinations in 19 countries in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the United States, including non-stop flights between Panama and Miami (twice daily), Los Angeles (four times a week) and Orlando (three times a week). From its "Hub of the Americas" at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Copa Airlines operates one of the most successful and efficient hubs in Latin America. This year Copa Airlines expects to transport more than 1.2 million passengers.