A Copa Airlines plane sits in the tarmac is pictured at Tocumen International Airport after the Panamanian government restricted flights in recent days due to the coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19), in Panama City, Panama March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Erick Marciscano
(Reuters) – The U.S. Transportation Department said on Wednesday it had fined Panama’s Copa Airlines (CPA.N) $450,000 for unlawfully transporting passengers between the United States and Venezuela via a stopover point and ordered the airline to avoid future similar violations.
The department said Copa sold more than 5,000 tickets for air travel between the United States and Venezuela and transported more than 15,000 passengers on these itineraries after the order took effect.
The department said Copa told officials it understands the seriousness of the matter and took considerable steps to avoid future violations.
Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Sandra Maler