Panama, Nov 15 (EFE) .- The Panamanian flag carrier Copa Airlines inaugurated today the direct and non-stop connection of Panama City and the Argentinean town of Mendoza, with a Frequency of four weekly flights, which expanded its destinations in Latin America to 74, the company reported today.

Flight CM420 will depart from Panama City on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in the afternoon, while the return flight, CM421, will be from the El Plumerillo International Airport of the Argentine province on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

For the direct flight to Mendoza, Copa Airlines will operate a modern Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with capacity to transport 160 passengers, 16 in the executive class and 144 in the Main cabin, said the company, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings S.A. Tocumen International, the principal of the Panamanian capital, where the Copa Airlines commercial and planning sales VP, Cristopher Didier, highlighted the importance of the new route.

The executive told Efe that the business model of the company is to expand its operations to secondary cities, where customers are discarding cities to plan your trips.

"Travelers want to have a flight from their city that takes them to a connection center like Tocumen, and from this 'Hub of the Americas' to another final destination in the continent, "explained Didier.

" This is route number 74 of Copa, and in December the airline will expand its destinations with the connection to be made with the City of Denver to 75, "said the vice president.

With the flight of the airline, Mendoza would be the fourth Cup destination in Argentina, after Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Rosario.

For its President of the Tourism Agency of Mendoza, Gabriela Testa, told Efe that the route opens a connectivity door, since it will facilitate the exchange of merchandise and business.

"Mendoza It is located in an extreme geographical position bordering the Andes Mountain Range, by achieving a direct connection with Panama it opens the doors to other cities in the Americas, "he said. Testa.

He commented that the government of the South American nation has resolved to improve the air connection with the opening of new routes locally and internationally.

"Markets as Canada, Colombia, the United States and Mexico have the profile of consumers who may like the offer of adventure tourism, wine tourism and gastronomy of Mendoza, "said the Argentine representative.

The president of the entity said that in terms of cooperation has already made an alliance with the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) to promote in the province Panamanian sun and beach attractions, shopping and Panamanian carnivals.

In the city of Mendoza, of almost 2 million inhabitants, it is said that the wine culture began when Spanish conquerors arrived. Beyond being one of the main wine capitals, Mendoza innovates in its cultural, gastronomic, artistic, environmental and social variants that position it as a sustainable site.

De According to data from the Mendoza organization, approximately 3.2 million international tourists enter the Andean region each year.