According to SkyTrax survey results

Panama's Copa Airlines has been selected for the second consecutive year as the best airline in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean in a survey conducted by SkyTrax, a British marketing research company.

The airline’s cabin crew also received the "Best on-Board Service" Award, surpassing respondents’ expectations in such areas as service efficiency, cabin appearance, customer service, courtesy and speaking ability, among others.

The SkyTrax research is the largest global survey of airline passengers, who vote on product quality and customer service. The study is based on more than 12 million responses from passengers from 94 nations.

"We are very pleased that we have earned this important recognition for the second consecutive year," said Jorge Garcia Icaza, Commercial Vice President of Copa Airlines. "This honor, which demonstrates Copa’s leadership in the region’s airline industry, stems from our policy of continuous improvement, our employees’ hard work and their focus on excellence -- all of which translate to passenger preference."

Copa currently offers approximately 80 daily scheduled flights to 30 destinations in 20 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Copa Airlines was founded in 1947.

The Panamanian Hotel Association (APATEL) recently launched its on-line directory. In addition to featuring updated information on Panama's top lodging facilities, the website grants visitors the opportunity to make reservations on line, learn about the actual availability of each hotel and learn about special offers, packages and promotions.

APATEL is one of the strongest, private-sector tourism organizations in Panama, with a membership of 100 companies.

Focus Publications (Int.) S.A., the parent company of The Visitor and the Focus on Panama guide, was one of the 14 Panamanian companies that recently visited Ecuador as part of a "Tourism Caravan" organized by Panama's Government Tourist Bureau (IPAT) and Copa Airlines.

"Tourism Caravans" present Panama as a tourist destination and consolidate business ties between Panamanian tourism companies and their foreign counterparts.

Ecuador is the second South American producer of tourists in Panama. Most Ecuadorian visitors here are either shoppers and businesspeople visiting the Colón Free Zone or guests at the all-inclusive resorts of Panama's Pacific coast.

Coordinated by Omar Ching and Miguel Aizpurua of IPAT's International Marketing Department, the Caravan included a heavy agenda of meetings and presentations with Ecuadorian travel agents, hoteliers and tourism wholesalers in the cities of Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil, as well as with members of the Panamanian diplomatic mission in Ecuador.

Mr. Rómulo Escobar, Honorific Consul of Panama in Ecuador; Mr. Juan Cabrera, Comerce Delegade of Panama's embacy in Ecuador; S.E. Mateo Castillero, Embassador of Panama in Ecuador; Mr. Omar Ching, International Merchandise Director of IPAT.

Copa Airlines, Panama's private-owned national airline, offered discout specials to participants. The airline offers two flights a day (only one on Mondays) between Panama City and Quito and Guayaquil.