Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance, will be expanding its presence in Latin America following the acceptance of Copa Airlines as a future member airline. Copa should be fully integrated into the alliance by mid-2012.

Once integrated, customers of the Alliance’s 31 members will have access to more than 22,500 daily flights serving 1,292 destinations in 188 countries.

The two airlines of Copa Holdings - Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia – currently serve 52 destinations in 25 countries. The group recently strengthened its presence in Colombia, by re branding Aero Republica to Copa Airlines Colombia.

In a separate announcement, Copa Airlines revealed that it has acquired 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The new aircraft will arrive over the next two years, with five deliveries in  2011 and in 2012.

These new aircraft will add extra capacity to meet with the increased demand expected due to the expansion of Copa’s main base at Panama's Tocumen International Airport late in 2011.