Copa places $282m 737 order

Boeing and Copa Airlines executives announced yesterday that the Panamanian airline placed an order for four Boeing 737-800 airplanes in a deal valued at approximately $282m.

The order brings to 34 the number of Next-Generation 737s Copa has ordered.

Copa now operates 24 Next-Generation 737s, with 10 - including those announced yesterday - remaining to be delivered.

‘This new order reinforces our commitment to our passengers by allowing us to continue expanding through additional frequencies and destinations, offering our passengers convenient options for travel between the most important Latin American cities,’ said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines.

Copa was the first carrier in the Americas to incorporate blended-winglets on the 737-700. All of its Next-Generation 737s use the curved wing ends, which Boeing says improves fuel efficiency and lift while reducing engine wear and carbon dioxide emissions.

Copa also was the first in the region to order Next-Generation 737s with the Vertical Situation Display (VSD) system, which provides pilots with an uncomplicated flight-path view.