Above: a Copa plane

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Copa Airlines has officially launched nonstop service between Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

With the new service, New Orleans becomes the airline’s 11th US destination and 71st overall destination.

Copa will operate the flights four times per week.

“Copa’s New Orleans-Panama service will bring all of Latin America closer than ever before for Louisiana business and leisure travelers,” said Fernando Fondevila, Commercial Regional Manager for Copa Airlines for North America. “We’re proud to provide the only nonstop service between New Orleans and Panama, as well as unsurpassed connectivity to destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Passengers flying from New Orleans will be able to make connections to more than 55 destinations in Central and South America and the Caribbean at Copa’s Hub of the Americas.

“This international flight to Panama City, Panama, opens the gateway to the Americas to provide new economic opportunity for the region’s businesses and tourism industry,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.