World Travel Awards Names Copa Airlines 2011 Leading Airline for Mexico and Central America

PANAMA CITY, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Copa Airlines has been named "Mexico & Central America's Leading Airline 2011" by World Travel Awards.

This is the second consecutive year the airline has won this important recognition.  Three other Central American and Mexican airlines also were nominated for the award.

"We are very pleased to receive the World Travel Award honor, which reflects Copa Airlines' focus on customer service and operational excellence across our extensive route network throughout the Americas," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines.  "We congratulate our more than 6,000 co-workers throughout the Americas whose work made this award possible."

The World Travel Awards began in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry.  Votes are cast by 183,000 travel professionals, including travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries across the globe, as well as the traveling public. Judging criteria include overall performance, product development, innovation, creativity and customer satisfaction.

The fastest growing airline in Latin America, Copa Airlines operates the leading and the most efficient hub in the region, the Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama.  In June 2011, Copa expanded its hub operations and currently operates six flight banks.  Copa Airlines offers flights to more international destinations within Latin America than any other airline from any other hub in the Latin American region.  The airline also flies nonstop to five U.S. destinations and Toronto, Canada.

About Copa Holdings

Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia, subsidiaries of Copa Holdings, are leading Latin American providers of passengers and cargo services. By the end of 2011 the airlines will offer service to 59 destinations in 28 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, operating one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry, consisting of 72 aircraft: 46 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft and 26 Embraer-190s. From the U.S., Copa Airlines currently offers nonstop service to Panama from Miami, New York City (JFK), Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. (Dulles), and Orlando.  The airline will begin daily nonstop service to Chicago on Dec. 16. Copa Airlines will join Star Alliance in April 2012. For more information, visit www.copaair.com.

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SOURCE Copa Airlines