Ok, why you think EK would sign a gentleman agreement with an airline that is not competing for pilots?
This is not about Emirates and Copa competing for the same applicants but rather any agreement that
maybe in place, would be designed to prevent movement from Copa to Emirates.
Perhaps such an agreement
if it exists, was a pre requisite that had to be finalised prior the route starting? We are largely oblivious to the peripheral issues that require negotiation prior to the starting of a new route and especially to a new country. This maybe one of them?
A defintive answer is not likely to be found on this website and if you really want to know, then you would be better off enquiring elsewhere.