The 1940s was not only the decade of air travel in the United States, but also a period when Panama was experiencing its own growth. It was during this time that Copa Airlines was born. When it began operations in 1947 in Panama City, there were few destinations one could travel to using its fleet of three Douglas C-47s, and Copa offered only domestic flights to three cities within the Republic of Panama.

But soon after, the airline-and flight travel itself-was lifted into the mainstream, and by the 1960s, Copa Airlines was providing international service.

Now, more than 60 years after its launch, Copa Airlines flies from Tocumen International Airport in Panama City to 42 destinations in 22 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., in the United States, Jamaica, Peru and elsewhere. A partnership with Continental Airlines offers Copa customers more options to fly internationally as well. Copa operates a next-generation fleet of high-tech aircraft, with spacious storage and adjustable headrests. Connections between flights are kept to one hour, on average, with on-time performance at better than 90 percent-one of the best records in the world.

More recently, Copa Airlines has gone green. In October, the airline launched a carbon off-setting program, based on a "carbon calculator." Using the calculator, passengers can figure the amount of greenhouse-gas emissions produced by their travel and make a voluntary monetary contribution to offset their carbon footprint.

For more information on flights to Panama City, Panama, and other Latin American destinations, visit www.copaair.com.