Copa Airlines inaugurates a direct flight between Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Panama
With the addition of this new destination, the Panamanian firm expands its route network to 80 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean, through the Hub of the Americas in Panama City, 5 of them in Mexico
Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, SA, and a member of the global airline network Star Alliance, announces that as of today, with two weekly flights, it starts direct operations between Panama City and the Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, which serves to the cities of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, thus adding its fifth destination in Mexico.
This will allow travelers better connectivity to 80 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean, through the Hub of the Americas in Panama City. On the other hand, Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit, will elevate its tourist and commercial potential by welcoming the region, to tourists from Latin America, thanks to the possibility of connection with Copa Airlines' wide network of destinations.
Mauro Arredondo, General Manager of Copa Airlines in Mexico, commented, "We are very pleased to start this new route, Panama - Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit, as this will strengthen the development of the tourism sector, as well as the opportunities commercial and investment in this important region of Mexico, in addition to Copa Airlines, it is very important to continue developing and providing world-class service, connectivity and punctuality to all our passengers that today extends to the Mexican Pacific ". He also added, "With this new flight, the Hub of the Americas at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama continues to consolidate itself as the most efficient and best connected air hub in the Americas."
Raúl Revuelta Musalem, director of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), said that the Group has made investments of more than 360 million pesos in the expansion and modernization of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, in order to provide a quality service to the Five million passengers per year from 51 destinations including Helsinki, Los Angeles, San Diego and Chicago. The new Copa flight is the product of a hard team effort from years ago, which confirms the commitment of Grupo Aeroportuario to the growth and internationalization of the states of Nayarit and Jalisco.
Javier Aranda, General Director of Tourism Trust Puerto Vallarta commented "We are very pleased to receive in our city this direct flight from Panama to the Puerto Vallarta Airport, with a renowned commercial partner such as Copa Airlines, as this air operation , will allow travelers from the south of the continent, the Andean Region and other countries in the region that are increasingly important for the tourist activity of our country, can, through a single easy and friendly connection, know this wonder of Mexico.
The Copa Airlines flight will start with two weekly flights on Thursday and Sunday, departing from Panama City at 09:05 a.m. and arriving at the Vallarta-Nayarit Airport at 12:47 p.m. (local time). The return flight will leave the same days from Puerto Vallarta at 01:52 p.m., arriving in Panama City at 7:16 p.m. (local time). The route will be operated with a Boeing 737-700 with capacity for 12 passengers in business class and 112 in the main cabin.
Marc Murphy, General Director of the Tourism Authority of Riviera Nayarit added, "We are very proud and happy that today is a reality, this new route Panama-Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit.With this new flight will avoid multiple connections, reducing times , distances and costs for Latin American tourists, while ensuring greater interest in the South American wholesale agencies towards the destination and in this way contribute to the arrival of more Latin American tourism to the region. "
In addition, the Airline has been recognized by FlightStats as "The most punctual airline in Latin America" for the fifth consecutive year and by the Official Airline Guide of London as "The fourth most punctual airline in the world" and the "most punctual in Latin America". Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit are five destinations that Copa Airlines operates in Mexico: it offers five daily flights between Panama and Mexico City, seven daily flights to Cancun, one daily flight to Guadalajara and four weekly flights to Monterrey. This broad coverage allows Copa Airlines to consolidate its position as one of the leading airlines in connectivity to the Mexican Republic.