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SANTO DOMINGO. - The constant competition among major airlines has prompted them to establish “hubs” in strategically important cities such as Delta in Atlanta, and American in Miami, which recently cut back flights to Dominican Republic.

Recently Panama’s Copa Airlines has done the same, with what it describes as the “Hub of the Americas,” (Tocumén airport) in that Central America nation.

The site is ideal for Dominican companies that do business with the region’s countries, because it’s much easier to make a stop in Panama than Miami, as Copa provides not just flights but also stimulates trade.

Interviewed by listin.com.do, Copa International marketing director Adolfo Sen said as Dominicans are demanding more services, they’ll find it easier to stop in Panama, which doesn’t require a visa, an advantage compared with the United States.

 “Hub of the Americas”

Copa’s four flights depart at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and arrive at 10:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.

Copa general manager in Dominican Republic, Claudia Zuluaga Alam, said this country is important because of its Free Trade Agreement with Central America and its high tourism demand. She said those reason led Copa to schedule 37 flights weekly in Dominican Republic.

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5 comment(s)
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Written by: bernies, 18 Jun 2008 9:45 AM
From: United States, falls church va
the hell with american airline and its poor service that doesn't give you anything on the plane and are always delays, lets go copa.
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 18 Jun 2008 9:57 AM
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
This could be the silver lining in the cloud ....jet blue is also moving in with more flights...I do not wish ill to AA but competition is good..... they were much to smug ever since the demise of Eastern Airlines seems like so many years ago
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 18 Jun 2008 9:59 AM
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
and another plug for free trade and Cafta....come on we are waiting for 10 page rebuttal mr Dand S
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Written by: jtava, 18 Jun 2008 12:48 PM
From: United States
I'm with you goulet. AA had no real competition previously and treated the Dominican Republic passengers as second class citizens. Even though we really don't care as long as we get there. Well some of us don't.
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Written by: Belial, 18 Jun 2008 1:54 PM
From: United States, Texas
Copa, "the Hub," is another one of those scrappy little airlines that knows how to fly in turbulent skies and kick asses in the air.

Copa operates about 116 daily scheduled flights to 41 destinations in 22 countries.

So, it has a lot of reach, not just regional.

{Out of the Caribbean BIG FOUR -- Cuba, Haiti, DR, and the US colony, PR -- Copa only doesn't do Haiti.]

It has a fleet of about 40 or so planes, mostly Boeing 737s, but it seems to be switching over rapidly to Embraers from Brazil.

It does almost all of important Latin American and Caribbean cities.

In the early 1980s, Copa began to do San Juan, PR, Miami and Santo Domingo.

In 2000, Copa began to do LA, Orlando, and NYC.

In 2006, it started to do Santiago, DR.

In 2007, Copa grabbed Washington D.C. and Punta Cana, DR.

It most likely can't wait until to September when AA promises to collapse and die.

It's unclear which bourgeoisie controls it -- Panamanian, US (Continental used to), or other.
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