(MENAFN- Caribbean News Now) By Ray Chickrie
Caribbean News Now contributor
GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Avianca Airlines of Colombia, which reached an agreement with United Airlines and COPA Airlines in November of 2018, is now looking to use this strategic and commercial partnership to bring new service and innovation for passengers traveling between the United States, Guyana and Suriname. It also includes 17 other countries in Latin America, the airline reported last week.
Avianca said it expects this agreement to bring benefits to travelers, communities and the marketplace. This Star Alliance trio is an agreement to cooperate and coordinate their flights, which is now the trend in the airline industry.
By integrating their complementary networks through a strategic and commercial partnership, Avianca, United and COPA expect the agreement to cover the US and many Latin American countries, including Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
'It is important to highlight that the main benefits of this alliance are for air travelers, including joint service between the companies so that customers will have more than 12,000 connection options, new nonstop routes, additional flights on existing routes and reduced travel times,' said Miguel Montoya, Avianca's senior vice president of engineering and maintenance.
Avianca and United will need approval from the governments of Guyana and Suriname. United is currently holding talks with Guyana.
Avianca's partner, COPA Airlines, currently flies to Guyana and, on July 6, the Panamanian carrier will commence direct flights between Panama City and Paramaribo, connecting this isolated city to its vast network through its Panama City hub.
The COPA/Avianca/United network will offer travellers in and out of Suriname access to over a hundred destinations in North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia and at competitive fares.
Finally, by adding Suriname to its network, COPA will expand its reach to all countries in South America. The Bogota and Panama hubs will give passengers from the Guianas more travel options.
'We are pleased to announce this direct flight to Paramaribo, a city that will benefit from the connectivity offered by our extensive network of destinations, providing access to the 32 other countries COPA serves. We are confident that this new route, which will commence on July 6 of this year, will promote greater opportunities for commercial and tourist activity in this unique and attractive country," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of COPA Airlines.
From its Bogota hub, Avianca flies to many cities in Latin, the Caribbean and Europe, and is looking to expand into the Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Officials from Avianca, Latin America's second largest airline in 2018 visited Suriname and held discussions with officials from the government and the airport authorities. They also met with Surinam Airways.
The Bogota hub is well connected with the world and, for countries like Guyana and Suriname with very poor air connectivity, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) recommended that the Guianas be connected to Panama City and Bogota.
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