Copa Airlines Colombia
Bogota airport
Copa Airlines Colombia (formerly Aero Republica ) is a Colombian airline based in Bogotá and based on the Bogota airport. It is a subsidiary of the Panamanian Copa Airlines and Avianca according to the second largest airline in the country.
History
Aero República was founded on November 23, 1992 by Amos Ginder and Dr. Alfonso Avila. The company was incorporated on 19 June 1993 three Boeing 727-100. The first targets of Bogotá Cartagena, Santa Marta and San Andres Island were served. Until this year there was in Colombia for 25 years, no new airline.
In 1997 it was announced that you are planning flights to the U.S., but these flights are not realized until today. At that time included 33% of the airline to the company Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela and Promotora de Inversiones Superior.
On 1 June 2005 the Panamanian Copa Airlines announced it has acquired a 90 percent stake in the airline. Up to this date only codeshare agreement existed between these two airlines. At the same time it was announced, to make the airline the second largest of Colombia, Avianca directly behind.
Aero República presented according to market studies their new corporate identity on 8 September 2006. The new logo is very similar to the logo of Copa Airlines and Continental Airlines as a co-owner of Copa Airlines. The name Aero República was initially retained and combined with the logo of Copa Airlines. The intended result is that the airline maintain its prestige at home and at the same time to the international recognition of Copa Airlines ( and Continental Airlines ) can build. With the new identity also plans for the future was developed. These included flights to the hub of Copa Airlines in Panama, renewal of the fleet with Embraer 190, the connection to the OnePass frequent flyer program of Continental Airlines, as well as an e-ticket system.
Aero República, 2007 saw an order for eight Embraer 190 for the year 2007. Of these, five were purchased new from the manufacturer and leased three of GECAS. In addition, the airline had options and purchase rights on another 20 Embraer 190 until 2011, several of which were also redeemed.
To minimize expenses, was announced by the Board that you have to lay off staff. Due to the change of Continental Airlines to Star Alliance and Copa Airlines and Aero República thus also announced on May 26, 2009 to terminate the cooperation with SkyTeam October 2009. Since 6 October 2010, the airline operates under the brand name Copa Airlines Colombia. On November 10, 2010 it was announced that Copa Airlines Colombia, as well as Copa Airlines will join the alliance Star Alliance.
Destinations
Be Flew national targets within Colombia and international destinations in Central and South America. As a charter several objectives in the Latin American countries are served.
Copa Airlines Colombia also maintains code -share agreement with Copa Airlines and United Airlines.
Fleet
As of April 2013 the fleet of Copa Airlines Colombia consists of 19 aircraft:
- 04 Boeing 737-700
- 15 Embraer 190