Dubai-Panama non-stop

The world’s longest flight is back on, which is good for Copa Airlines, which will provide connections in the region, and good for the region itself, which can expect an increase in the number of visitors, especially business people.

It may even be good for Emirates, which on March 31 will start a 17.5 hour service between Panama and Dubai, following a suspension last month of the proposed link, which was supposed to start at the beginning of this month

The delay has allowed Emirates and Copa to complete their initial codeshare arrangements, under which the airline's passengers can continue to four Colombian destinations – Barranquilla, Bogota, Cali and Medellin – on Emirates flights operated by Copa.

Doubts about the practicality of the Dubai-Panama link have persisted in the airline industry since it was announced last year, since Europeans and East Asians have options available, which involve shorter travel times.

Meanwhile, business people who near the United Arab Emirates - Africa, the Middle East, India and Central Asia - have few commercial ties with Central America.

On the other hand, the relationship with Copa could become a major strategic link, given that Dubai is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic, while Panama’s Tocumen International has more connections to destinations in North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, than any other airport.

Emirates Group, the holding company which operates the airline, in 2015 reported earnings of the equivalent of $1.5 billion, on sales equivalent to more than $26 billion.