BOGOTA—The arrival of Copa Airlines at Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) represents a “significant milestone” for the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, according to Fábio Marques, COO of Zurich Airport Brazil.

Starting June 25, the Panama-based carrier will begin service to Florianopolis, becoming the seventh destination for the airline in Brazil. Flights will initially operate with three frequencies per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Speaking at Routes Americas 2024, Marques says the service will open new one-stop travel options for passengers in Santa Catarina thanks to Copa’s extensive network in North America, Central America and the Caribbean via Panama.

“It’s a milestone in the internationalization of Florianopolis Airport,” Marques says. “It’s a route that efficiently connects passengers to another continent, reducing the travel time to the final destination, with no need for more than two stops.”

It is also hoped the service will further stimulate inbound tourism. Florianópolis is known for its white sandy beaches, as well as its Azorean architecture and ecotourism.

Alongside the entry of Copa, Marques says the airport has been successful in securing several other new routes in recent months, including the launch of operations from Lima, Peru, by Sky Airline and the introduction of JetSMART’s flights from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Capacity to Chile has also increased, while Sky and Azul have added frequencies to Uruguay’s capital Montevideo.

Overall, FLN handled 131,000 international passengers in January 2024, with year-on-year international capacity rising by 7.4%, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. The figures placed the airport as Brazil’s third largest for international traffic.

Marques says Lima remains an underserved market, while the airport sees an opportunity to add service to other destinations of South America. FLN is also looking to add connectivity to secondary cities in Chile, like Antofagasta, Iquique and La Serena, as well as destinations such as Córdoba and Rosario in Argentina.