A Panamanian television crew left Tocumen International Airport on Monday. They are heading to Seattle, United States. Their mission involves covering the unveiling of a special Copa Airlines aircraft. This plane will carry Panama’s National Soccer Team to its second FIFA World Cup appearance.
The aircraft’s design comes from a competition that attracted over 700 entries last November. Two young Panamanians created the winning concept. One of them, Ernesto De León, shared his excitement before boarding the flight to Seattle.
“I feel very happy, very emotional. As a Panamanian, I feel proud to see the national team in the World Cup and as a designer, it is a big step in my career to see my work on the airplane,” De León said. [Translated from Spanish]
The creative process proved demanding. De León had to follow strict brand guidelines from both the Panamanian Football Federation and the airline. “It was a pretty big challenge, to comply with all the bases and capture the idea on the plane,” he added. [Translated from Spanish]
Design Remains a Mystery Until the Big Reveal
The final airplane design stays under wraps. Even its creators have only seen preliminary models. National team head coach Thomas Christiansen admitted he is also waiting to see the finished product. He called the experience unusual.
“Going to get an airplane is not something you do every day,” Christiansen said. “Just like De León, I don’t know how the final design turned out, so the excitement is total.” [Translated from Spanish]
Christiansen emphasized the team’s commitment to representing Panama well. “We always want to leave Panama as high as possible. We are going to put all our effort into it. We are going to start with the airplane. It is what will take us first to the United States… to see how beautiful it turned out,” he stated. [Translated from Spanish]
The coach noted that qualifying for the World Cup brings special moments. He described this event as “part of the beauty of qualifying for the World Cup.” [Translated from Spanish]
The official unveiling takes place in Seattle. The city sits two hours behind Panama’s time zone. A delegation from the Panamanian Football Federation will attend. Media representatives and Christiansen will be there too. Several national team players will join the event. Some are traveling from the United States. Others are flying in from Panama.
A Symbol That Will Travel Across the Continent
This airplane will do more than transport the team. It will fly to multiple international destinations. The aircraft projects Panama’s image across the globe. The World Cup will take place in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Full coverage of this event is available through TVN Noticias and TVMAX. These platforms will share all details of the unveiling. It marks a new chapter in Panamanian soccer history.
Copa Airlines operates out of Tocumen International Airport. The airline partnered with the national federation for this project. The specially designed aircraft will serve as a flying ambassador for Panama’s World Cup journey.