Copa Airlines is signing a maintenance agreement with Panama Aerospace Engineering (PAE), a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Aerospace LTD. As part of this agreement, Copa Airlines will perform all heavy maintenance of its Boeing Next Generation fleet in PAE’s new facilities in Howard Airport, located a short distance from Panama City. Currently Copa Airlines outsources its heavy maintenance with a third party MRO provider in the United States.

“At Copa Airlines, we aim to provide passengers with world class service and the best travel options in America with convenient connections through our Hub of the Americas in Panama. To meet our expansion plans, we are pleased to have a reputed and world class MRO provider like ST Aerospace in Panama to support our growing fleet. This contract marks a new and growing cooperation between Copa Airlines and ST Aerospace,” com mented Mr. Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines.

“Our agreement with ST Aerospace will ensure first-class MRO services for Copa Airlines aircraft in a very convenient location, which will reduce cost for Copa Airlines, not only by lowering our heavy maintenance costs, but by eliminating long-distance ferry flights and positioning of staff,” commented Captain Larry Ganse—Senior Vice-president of Operations.

PAE will provide maintenance and modification services for Boeing and Airbus aircraft, as well as serve the maintenance needs of Copa Airlines and other customers from Central, North and South America. It will leverage on ST Aerospace’s network of MRO capabilities and worldwide customer base and aims to build a capacity of more than 1.2 million manhours and employ a workforce of 1,000 skilled engineers and technicians.
——-