Above: a Boeing Next Generation plane

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Panama-based Copa Airlines will be launching service to Guyana, the carrier announced this week.

The airline will begin twice-weekly flights between Panama City and Georgetown beginning July 11, it said.

The new route is Copa’s first to the country, and brings its total number of destinations to 69 in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean.

“Our sustained growth in recent years has allowed us to reinforce our leadership in the region and to continue the Hub of the Americas’ position as the most successful and efficient hub for travel to and from, as well as within, Latin America,” said Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron in a statement. “Our success has benefited Latin America, and has stimulated business and the creation of new jobs and investment in Panama.”

Copa also announced this week that it would be adding new aircraft amounting to a 10 percent growth in seating capacity in its fleet.

The company will add eight new Boeing Next Generation 737-800 planes this year, bringing the total size of its fleet to 98 aircraft.

Copa flies to a number of destinations in the Caribbean, including Cuba, Jamaica, Curacao, the Bahamas, St Maarten and the Dominican Republic, among others.