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Copa Airlines recently announced plans to launch direct service to Raliegh-Durham, one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the United States.

The new flights will expose Panama to a region often referred to as the new Silicon Valley. The Triangle, the main industrial area, is the second fastest-growing technology center in the country, with more than 4,000 companies.  

These will also be the first non-stop flight from Raliegh-Durham to Central America, making Panama City the entry point to the region for North Carolina. Panama City’s growing role as the “Hub of the Americas” has been shown to pay direct dividends for tourism and real estate, exposing the country to a new generation of travelers who ultimately may be traveling to other destinations.

“The introduction of the new Raleigh-Durham route not only promotes cultural exchanges within the Americas but also encourages and deepens tourism and business ties between Latin America and the Research Triangle area,” said Dennis Cary, Chief Commercial Officer at Copa Airlines. “This new route also provides the opportunity for more American tourists to enjoy the wonders of Panama.”

The Raleigh-Durham flights will launch on June 21, with four weekly flights on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 

“This new gateway will provide Triangle travelers easy access to Central and South America and the Caribbean through Copa’s vast international network,” Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority said at a press conference.

The new routes are part of a dramatic expansion of flights in the U.S. to Panama City, after the recent addition of direct flights from Baltimore and Austin. Copa now has 18 destinations in the U.S. and Canada, part of its network of 85 destinations in 32 countries.