| Pedasi, Panama received its first inaugural flight from | | | | Pedasi investors and the Ministry of Tourism (ATP) |
| Panama City last month, launching the first foray by a | | | | hammered out a deal to subsidize flights to Pedasi's |
| domestic airline into the fast-growing region. | | | | existing airstrip. |
| The introductory flight by Aeroperlas Regional marks | | | | Set in the southern point of the Azuero Peninsula in |
| the first of a twice-weekly run from the country's | | | | Panama's Los Santos province, Pedasi has gained a |
| capital, shortening the four-hour drive to a 55-minute | | | | reputation in recent years as a cozy escape for |
| trip to Panama's "Tuna Coast". | | | | Hollywood and international celebrities, many of whom |
| Live dance and musical performances marked the | | | | have bought vacation homes in the region. Charming |
| event, which was attended by Panama's Minister of | | | | fishing villages, miles of deserted beaches, waters |
| Tourism, Salomon Shamah, and Rolando Pereira, | | | | churning with tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi, sailfish and other |
| Commercial Manager of Aeroperlas, as well as | | | | prize catches, vibrant festivals and beautiful nature |
| representatives from various local businesses, who | | | | reserves have marked Pedasi's appeal and lured |
| were instrumental in initiating the joint venture. | | | | strong investment into the district. |
| Mr Shamah announced the government's intent to | | | | While Pedasi is a smooth four-hour drive from |
| penetrate the country's interior and further explore its | | | | Panama City on well-maintained highways, the advent |
| rich tourism potential, while emphasizing the need to | | | | of a scheduled flight promises to further open up the |
| protect the natural heritage that supplies it. | | | | region to both tourism and investment. |
| The flight was received enthusiastically by local | | | | Both Aeroperlas and the ATP have already begun a |
| investors and residents alike. | | | | forceful marketing campaign promoting the new flights, |
| "This region had been left off the map of domestic | | | | which will run midday on Mondays and Fridays from |
| flights long enough," said Daniel Rudas of Andromeda | | | | Panama City's Albrook Airport (also known as the |
| Ocean Estates, a Panama beachfront gated | | | | Marcos. A. Gelabert Airport), returning the same day. |
| community in Pedasí. "We and other investors in | | | | A third, additional flight on Wednesdays is also |
| the area were determined to persuade the airlines and | | | | potentially in the works. |
| the Ministry of Tourism that Pedasi, and the entire | | | | The 12-seater plying the route is one of many |
| Azuero Peninsula, has the potential needed to make | | | | operated by Aeroperlas, which ferries passengers to |
| scheduled flights viable. In fact, the demand is already | | | | 13 destinations across Panama. The addition of |
| there – it just needed to be acknowledged." | | | | Pedasi marks the airline's first entry into the country's |
| Andromeda Ocean Estates and several other Pedasi | | | | long-neglected central interior; the majority of flights |
| businesses persuaded Mr Shamah to visit the Pedasi | | | | serviced destinations closer to the capital, and the |
| area and discover just how much tourism potential | | | | Costa Rican border. |
| was waiting to be tapped. | | | | Aeroperlas is part of the TACA group, which |
| "Once Mr Shamah set foot in Pedasi, we knew that | | | | operates domestic flights in Panama, Costa Rica, |
| the flight was going to become a reality. Pedasi sells | | | | Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, as well as |
| itself," marked Mr Rudasevski. | | | | international flights across the Americas. |
| Soon after their meeting, Aeroperlas executives, | | | | |