By the Caribbean Journal staff

Panama’s Copa Airlines is set to operate four weekly flights to St Maarten for the upcoming winter season, according to the St Maarten Ministry of Tourism.

The important regional carrier will resume the flights by December, according to a government statement.

The announcement came after a meeting between St Maarten Tourism Minister Stuart Johnson and Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron last week.

“St Maarten continues to make significant headway towards full restoration of our visitor arrival numbers, and this comes through continued dialogue with our international partners,” Johnson said in a statement. “Their trust in our destination is evidence that our product is amongst the best in the world.”

Copa has been flying twice weekly to St Maarten this summer.

“This was a crucial visit for Minister Johnson to meet with Copa Airlines, as they are our only Latin American carrier that is a crucial part for the further development of the tourism industry of St Maarten in the Latin American market.”

Indeed, Copa’s hub at Panama’s Tocumen International Airport is one of the leading gateways for Latin American travelers to reach the Caribbean region.

— CJ