Copa orders four more 737-800s

By Nicholas Ionides

Panama's Copa Airlines has ordered four more Boeing 737-800s, lifting its outstanding commitments to the aircraft type to 13.

The carrier says in a statement that the four additional aircraft are due for delivery "within the next three years". It says it now has 13 outstanding firm orders for 737s as well as options for more.

"These additional aircraft will enable Copa to continue strengthening its leadership position in the Latin American airline industry, as well as provide our passengers an attractive product and a highly efficient aircraft," says CEO Pedro Heilbron.

"Our fleet plan is flexible, allowing us to replace aircraft as their leases expire or to support additional growth."

Copa currently operates 42 aircraft, 27 of them 737-700/800s and 15 of them Embraer 190s. This excludes aircraft in service with Colombian subsidiary AeroRepublica.

Heilbron said last month that additional aircraft acquisitions were being looked at to support further expansion at Copa and AeroRepublica.