Copa, Turkish Airlines ink codeshare deal

Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A., and Turkish Airlines, both members of Star Alliance, the leading global airline network, have signed a codeshare agreement, which will offer passengers more flight options.
The strategic hub of the Americas of Copa Airlines, in Panama City, will allow passengers coming from Istanbul to efficiently connect to 74 destinations in America and the Caribbean, including the most important cities of the region. Also with this codeshare agreement, Latin American passengers traveling with Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, will have more entry options to Europe, Africa, Asia/Far East and the Middle East.
Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, said: “This agreement between Copa Airlines and Turkish Airlines has great importance since it contributes to strengthen the connectivity between Latin America with Istanbul and the rest of Europe. Passengers from both hemispheres will benefit from world-class services and seamless connections through the hubs of the codeshare partners.”
Initially, Turkish Airlines will place its code on Copa flights between Panama City and David in Panama; Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Manaus, Belo Horizonte and Sao Paulo in Brazil; Santo Domingo and Punta Cana in Dominican Republic; Guayaquil and Quito in Ecuador; San Salvador in El Salvador; Asuncion in Paraguay; and Lima in Peru.
On the other hand, Copa will place its code on Turkish Airlines flights between Panama and Istanbul. Progressively, as government approvals are granted, Turkish will also place its code on Copa flights to Cancun, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; Managua in Nicaragua; San Jose in Costa Rica and Montevideo in Uruguay.
Bilal Eksi, Turkish Airlines deputy chairman and CEO, added: “We are delighted to begin codeshare cooperation with Copa Airlines, which will improve our partnership as Star Alliance partners and also provide unique travel opportunities to the passengers through the far-reaching flight networks of both airlines. Especially, with our flights to Panama City operated from our incomparably positioned hub, Istanbul, passengers will enjoy traveling all around the continent with Copa Airlines flights from Panama City.”
This agreement will also improve and promote bilateral opportunities for tourism and commercial developments between the two countries.

Source: Arab News