Specifically in Latin America, CO has something that other airlines lack: name recognition. A flyer from Panama won't care if DL is larger than CO: both get him/her to Albuquerque with a single connection. CO has definitely established itself in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America as one of the key US players, and this recognition converts directly into ticket sales.

I'd go as far as to say that based on public perception by people in northern Latin America, Continental and American are the 2 largest US airlines.

[This message has been edited by Viajero Joven (edited 07-09-2001).]