PANAMA CITY, Panama – Copa Airlines plans to spend US$600 million to expand in 2010. The airline wants to buy more planes, hire 900 employees and add flights and four destinations this year. The reason for the company’s growth was a 15% increase in the number of passengers in December 2009 compared to the same time in 2008. Pedro Heilbrón, Copa Airlines’ vice president, said 2009 was a successful year despite the company’s having to deal with the global economic crisis and the influenza A (H1N1) virus epidemic. Heilbrón said that to some extent, the airline is growing because of the expansion of Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, which will give the airline more hangars. [Prensa.com