Copa Airlines has announced it will increase the number of flights the airline operates to the cities of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, effective January 2005. Currently the airline operates daily flights to each city.

The new Copa Airlines flight to Buenos Aires will operate on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays beginning Jan. 4, 2005. The flight will depart Panama at 7:35 p.m., arriving in Buenos Aires at 4:40 a.m. the following day. The return flight will depart Buenos Aires at 4:10 a.m., arriving in Panama at 9:30 a.m. By June 2005, Copa plans to increase this schedule to daily, for a total of two daily flights between Panama y Buenos Aires.

Copa Airlines will add four flights per week between Panama and Sao Paulo on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, effective Jan. 2, 2005, to supplement the daily flight schedule it now operates. The new flight will depart Panama at 7:23 p.m., arriving in Sao Paulo at 4:23 a.m. the following day. The return flight will leave Sao Paulo at 4:35 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Panama at 9:35 a.m. The airline plans to increase this frequency to daily flights in June 2005, for a total of two daily flights between Panama and Sao Paulo.

"The increase in frequencies to the cities of Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo reinforces Copa Airlines' policy of offering the best travel options to our customers by allowing them a choice of convenient flight schedules and access to our quick connections," said Jorge García Icaza, Commercial Vice President, Copa Airlines. "This is one way Copa contributes to the business growth and tourism development of Latin America."

The company also announced the expansion of its fleet to include four new Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. The airline will take delivery of two of the aircraft in 2005 and two in 2006.

The airline already took delivery of two Boeing aircraft in 2004 and expects to take delivery of one Boeing 737-800 in October and a Boeing 737-700 in December. By the end of 2004, Copa Airlines' fleet will number 20 Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft, reaching a total of 24 Boeing aircraft by the end of 2006 ? the youngest and most modern fleet on the continent.

"This acquisition of modern Boeing 737-700 and 800 aircraft is part of our policy of fleet renovation and expansion, as well as commitment to customer satisfaction and to the development of our country," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines. "Our fleet expansion plan incorporates the latest in commercial aviation technology while responding to the needs and expectations of our customers, all of which strengthen our competitive presence in the American continent."