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Trade
and Industry Minister Dr Keith Rowley cuts the ribbon to
inaugurate direct flights between Panama and T&T on
Monday at the VIP Lounge at Piarco International Airport.
Assisting him are
|Pedro Heilbron chief executive officer, Copa Airlines,
left, and Ricardo Duran Vice-Minister of Trade & Industry,
Panama. Photos: Lester Forde
BY
RAPHAELJOHN LALL
TRADE and Industry Minister Dr Keith Rowley says that T&T
intends to become a major economic player in the region
and the arrival of Copa Airlines will assist this country
in achieving that goal.
Rowley made the comment at a ceremony at the VIP Lounge,
Piarco International Airport on Monday to mark the arrival
of the airline’s inaugural flight.
Copa Airlines is Panama’s national carrier. It currently
offers 126 daily scheduled flights to 41 destinations in
North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. T&T
becomes its 41st destination.
It will operate four weekly flights to T&T. The flights
will depart Panama on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
at 12.10 pm and arrive in Trinidad at 4.02 pm.
“It
is symbolic that the first flight from Panama by Copa had
on board some members of our delegation from Central America,”
Rowley said. “Trinidad and Tobago’s intention
is to be an integral part of the economic space, the social
space, the cultural space of Central America and it is Trinidad
and Tobago’s intention to become a major player with
respect to the provision of goods and services,” he
added.
He said interconnectivity had been an obstacle to achieving
the Government’s objective of turning the country into
an economic powerhouse.
“There
have been two hurdles...there is the language barrier...secondly
interconnectivity...now we have Copa Airlines providing
us with interconnectivity,” according to Rowley.
Rowley said that the arrival of Copa Airlines provides increased
opportunities for trade between the two countries.
“As
we move to expand our economy we are taking steps to ensure
that we are in a position not just to buy from you but to
sell to you.
“We
think that the arrival of Copa is a great milestone...and
we are now able to access Central America and the northern
part of South America,” he said.
Pedro Heilbron, chief executive officer of Copa Airlines,
said the airline was excited to begin operations to T&T.
“It
is our belief that Trinidad and Tobago’s open policy,
which allows us to be here today to inaugurate this flight,
has contributed to the continuous growth of the country.
Trinidad and Tobago has experienced growth in international
business, investments in the oil and natural gas sectors...in
short we are very excited to be here,” he said.
Heibron said the arrival of Copa Airlines will provide increased
interconnectivity for this country.
“Our
vision at Copa Airlines is to be the leading and preferred
connecting airline between the North, Central America, South
America and the Caribbean. As of today Trinidad and Tobago
is better connected with Panama and also with Central America,
with Mexico and with even parts of the Caribbean,”
he said.
Ricardo Duran, Panama’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs,
attributed the service to the commitment of the T&T
Government.
Copa Airlines’ 61-year history was marred by one single
crash on June 6, 1992, when one of its Boeing 737-204 aircraft
crashed during bad weather shortly after leaving the airport
in Panama on the way to Cali, Colombia, killing all 47 people
on board.
The
94-passenger Embraer 190 jet operated by Copa Airlines taxis
to its ramp position after landing at Piarco International
Airport on Monday on its inaugural flight to T&T.
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