AIR CANADA,ranked  as North America’s “Best Airline”,   has joined Copa Airlines in providing direct flights to Panama. They will begin December 17, in time for the annual snowbirds exodus from the Canadian winter, and will be a welcome boost to Panama tourism as well as strengthening Tocumen International’s position as the airport hub of Latin America.

The launch of the three-times weekly, year-round service, brought this comment from Benjamin Smith, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

"Air Canada is very pleased to become the only Canadian network carrier offering non-stop flights between Canada and Panama. Panama City is growing and vibrant, and is both a business and leisure destination for Canadians, many of whom own vacation properties in the area,"

The service will be operated with Airbus A319 aircraft with 120 seats. and will offer a Business Class cabin, complimentary seatback entertainment throughout the aircraft, and Aeroplan points accumulation and redemption. For eligible customers, there is also access to the International Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto.

The five and a half hour flights will be timed to offer convenient onward connections from Tocumen International.

THE SERVICE

Flights will be operated Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, from Toronto to Panama at 8.30 am, and from Panama to Toronto at 3.15 pm.

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international and  is among the 20 largest airlines in the world. It provides scheduled passenger service directly to 60 Canadian cities,in addition to its worldwide service  Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance and  is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax that ranked Air Canada in a worldwide survey of more than 18 million airline passengers as Best Airline in North America in 2013 for the fourth consecutive year.