Unassociated Document
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 6-K
 
 
Report of Foreign Issuer
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Report on Form 6-K dated for the month of March, 2009
 
 
Copa Holdings, S.A.
(Translation of Registrant's Name Into English)
 
 
Boulevard Costa del Este, Avenida Principal y Avenida de la Rotonda
Urbanización Costa del Este
Complejo Business Park, Torre Norte
Parque Lefevre
Panama City, Panama
 (Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
 
Form 20-F x     Form 40-F o
 
(Indicate by check whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)
 
Yes o     No x
 
(If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b);82-             )
 
Enclosure:  COPA HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES 9.5% TRAFFIC GROWTH FOR FEBRUARY 2009
 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
Copa Holdings, S.A.
(Registrant)
  
     
Date: 03/06/2009      
 
By:
/s/ Victor Vial  
    Name:  Victor Vial  
    Title:    CFO  
 
 
  
 
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Joseph Putaturo – Panamá
   
Director-Investor Relations
   
(507) 304-2677
 
COPA HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES 9.5% TRAFFIC GOWTH FOR FEBRUARY 2009
 
Panama, March 6, 2009 - Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA), and its Copa Airlines and Aero Republica operating subsidiaries, today released preliminary passenger traffic statistics for February 2009:
 
Copa Holdings  (Consolidated)
February
February
Change
2009
2008
(%)
ASM (mm) (1)
745.8
649.6
14.8%
RPM (mm) (2)
555.9
507.5
9.5%
Load Factor (3)
74.5%
78.1%
-3.6 p.p.
 
Copa Airlines
ASM (mm) (1)
627.2
541.9
15.7%
RPM (mm) (2)
485.6
442.0
9.9%
Load Factor (3)
77.4%
81.6%
-4.1 p.p.
 
Aero Republica
ASM (mm) (1)
118.6
107.7
10.2%
RPM (mm) (2)
70.3
65.5
7.3%
Load Factor (3)
59.3%
60.8%
-1.6 p.p.
1.  Available seat miles - represents the aircraft seating capacity multiplied by the number of miles the seats are flown.
2.  Revenue passenger miles - represents the numbers of miles flown by revenue passengers
3.  Load factor  - represents the percentage of aircraft seating capacity that is actually utilized
 
For the month of February 2009, Copa Holdings’ system-wide passenger traffic (RPM) increased 9.5%, while capacity (ASM) increased 14.8%.  System load factor for February 2009 was 74.5%, a 3.6 percentage point decrease when compared to February 2008.
 
Copa Airlines passenger traffic (RPM) for February 2009 increased 9.9%, while capacity (ASM) increased 15.7%. This resulted in a load factor of 77.4%, a 4.1 percentage point decrease when compared to February 2008.
 
Aero Republica passenger traffic (RPM) for February 2009 increased 7.3, while capacity (ASM) increased 10.2%.  Load factor for the month was 59.3%, a 1.6 percentage point decrease when compared to February 2008.
 
1
 
  
 
Copa Holdings, through its Copa Airlines and Aero Republica operating subsidiaries, is a leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo service.  Copa Airlines currently offers approximately 144 daily scheduled flights to 45 destinations in 24 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.  In addition, Copa Airlines provides passengers with access to flights to more than 120 other international destinations through code share agreements with Continental Airlines and other airlines.  Aero Republica, the second-largest domestic carrier in Colombia, provides service to 12 cities in Colombia as well as international connectivity with Copa Airlines’ Hub of the Americas through flights from Bogota, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Medellin and Pereira. Additionally, in May 2008 Aero Republica increased international service by launching direct daily flights to Caracas, Venezuela from the cities of Bogota and Medellin.
 
CPA-G
 
2