COPA orders up to 21 B-737
 

Copa ordered some B737 NG recently. Is that for expansion, to replace the older ones or are they going to Aerorepublica?

Thanks

Sounds like "adding" to me
 

$1 BILLION INVESTMENT

Copa will buy 13 new planes

07-17-2009 | MARIJULIA PUJOL LLOYD

Panama Star PANAMA.

Copa Airlines has signed a $1 billion contract for aircraft manufacturer Boeing to buy thirteen 737-800 airplanes, plus options for an additional eight.

The order represents a mixture of option conversions and new orders and brings to 27 the number of Boeing Next-Generation 737s the airline has on order.

Copa’s executive president Pedro Heilbron said that the new airplanes will allow the airline to expand its area of operation with more frequent flights to different destinations.

Heilbron said that “The Boeing 737s have been a major factor in Copa’s success, providing us with operating and cost efficiencies, and enabling us to offer our passengers world-class service and an extensive route network throughout Latin America.

“The aircraft order reaffirms our confidence in our business model and the growth potential of Latin American aviation,” said Copa Executive president.

The new planes will have installed “blended winglets”, which are extensions put at the end of the wings and can decrease the fuel usage between 3.5 to four percent in flights which are over 1000 nautical miles.

The airplanes also will be outfitted with Boeing’s signature Sky Interior.

Drawing from years of research used to design the interior for the 787 Dreamliner, the 737 Boeing Sky Interior features new, 787-style sculpted sidewalls and windows that provide passengers with a greater connection to the flying experience.

The Next-Generation 737 is claimed to be the most technologically advanced airplane in its class flying higher, faster and farther than previous models.

In addition, its flight deck features the latest liquid-crystal flat-panel displays and is designed to accommodate new communications and flight-management capacity. Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Carson said that Copa Airlines continues to be successful in a very challenging economic environment through the use of the latest in commercial aviation technology.

President Ricardo Martinelli said that the destiny of Copa is tied to Panama, because this airlines moves around two million passengers a year and each plane in the fleet generates 102 jobs and that more companies should follow it example.

Martinelli also asked Heildron to consider supporting the opening of an international airport in the interior to attract more visitors to the country.

The President said that Copa should also encourage young people in Panama so they can become pilots for that airline, which has been forced to employ foreigners because they are not enough professionals, who can fill the positions.

Copa operates from Tocumen International Airport, a time-saving hub on long routes between the United States, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. It flies four of the world's longest 737 routes from there -- to Buenos Aires, Santiago, Sao Paulo and Los Angeles.

The first order will be delivered in 2012 and the last one 2017.


:D

P.S. We would like to hear from the people inside this nice company.

Professionals
 

Hey AeroDiaz , What is the source for this article????

Quote..."The President said that Copa should also encourage young people in Panama so they can become pilots for that airline, which has been forced to employ foreigners because they are not enough professionals, who can fill the positions."

Who is NOT PROFESSIONAL ENOUGH????????????? ... or he intended to say that There are not enough professionals to cover the labor demand??:sad:

LOL...

Take care guys!!!!

ps: I bet some of those B73 are indeed going to AEROrepublica, I was told by a good friend of mine from MGMT.:ok:

Yup!... I'm quite sure that was the idea... Copa Crews look really Young, i've seen a few at SCEL, guess it's for that matter. I'll really like to get a chance there but who knows these days...

Few years ago here in Chile, a rumour coming from LAN with a pretty similar statement was around Chilean Flight Crews, when they placed a big order for their A3XX Family. believe where some 30 planes or so, but Recruting wasn't that great in Chile.
The order was spread all over the network, making recruitment available in all Latin America, still a good thing:ok:

Hey buddies!
 

I forgot to put the source of this info, sorry about that.


http://www.laestrella.com.pa/mensual/2009/07/17/contenido/123276.asp


By the time those planes arrive I´m gonna have a very good chance of putting my hands on them. :E I know I´m being very optimistic here. Any bets on this? Opinions? Rumors? Jokes?


Keep the good news coming!.


Greetings

DÍAZ

Hopefully same here AeroDiaz. Thanks for the news confirmation.


Saludos!
Airliner777 :ok:

Hi, do you know if they are recruiting???
Thanks

No yet ROI1900D. I received an e-mail about three weeks ago.

MDT06

Hey MDt06, what did the email say?

MDT06
"No yet"

Sounds toooooooooooooo optimistic :hmm:
No new Expats in Copa for a long while :=
Plenty of locals University graduates waiting to jump into RH seats,
after they will be vacated by guys moving to the left.

Sorry guys But you are late for this train :(

Wate 2012 :ok:

Let me be more specific, Immigrant is right, only locals for now.

MDT06

With the 3600USD Salary for 737 Capt, im surprised they didnt order 100 airplanes. If Copa doesnt get with times they will allways become a training academy for airlines in middle east, india and asia

Not "WILL" Thay ARE :D
and this is part of their Business model :cool:

A Lot Of Work For Atcs
 

I Am Just Thinking About Those Atcs In Panama ,,i Had The Oportunity To Go To The Radar Center In Panama,,i Was Really Surprised To See The Amount Of Traffic Those Guys Manage Every Day,,it Is Amazing,,,but More Amazing Is There Highest Salary 1,500...thats Completely Ridicoulus,,,no Wonder There Are Been Offer Packages For This Year In The Meadle East And Europe,,,the Aac Should Watch Out For This Year With Those Guys,,just In A Sudden They Wil Find There Self Withouth Controllers.

Any Coments......

I am sorry, but what does ATC has to do with copa and their recent rumor????

Keep it rolling until it stops!

Some Peoples Simple Have Very Short Flash On Their Lamps Vision..........sorry For You.

It has to do with the fact that the Copa Hub is the bussiest of the day for the ATC Controllers on the CERAP of Balboa as it is. Extra 21 acft will mean even more work to handle, and for just $1,500 a month seems not to be a very good deal after all. The ACC has been squeezing controllers for years and years, keeping the salaries very low, even thou the traffic into/out and overflight Panama has grown a lot.

But, that's not Copa's bussiness at the end of the day...

About the extra acft's I think it's cool. I know is monopoly and all, but after so many stories of airlines going busted, at least somebody is doing sort well.

Does anybody know whether copa is hiring on Dec?

Not yet ..But next year ..Will
make a line........ :}

If you go to their website, and go to the "work with us" link it will tell you all the minimums for the F/O position and captains. I don't know if this means that they are hiring or not. I was amazed to see the minimums for panamenians F/O 250 hours single engine, multi, and instruments. No comercial..

Requirements for appying for the First officer Position