Panama's Airports Witness a Return to Pre-Pandemic Passenger Levels

Panama's main international airport, Tocumen International Airport, has seen a resurgence in passenger flow, bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels.As flights take off and land during peak hours in the morning and late afternoon, it's a bustling scene of people rushing from one terminal to another. Flights connecting from South America to North America and the Caribbean are often operating at over 80% capacity, and passengers heading towards Europe can be seen lining up for boarding.

The dynamism at Tocumen Airport and other Panamanian airports has been remarkable. According to the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), Panama has surpassed the volume of available seats in May 2019 by 102%. In other words, there has been a 2-point percentage increase in flight capacity compared to pre-pandemic levels.

New Routes and Increased Connectivity:

ALTA's report reveals that, by the end of May, at least 13 new routes had been added, expanding connections from various Panamanian airports like Tocumen, Panama Pacifico, and Bocas del Toro to both domestic and international markets. Among these new routes are flights from Panama to Cúcuta in Colombia, as well as routes between Bocas del Toro and San José in Costa Rica. Additionally, flights from Tocumen to Santa Marta, Barcelona (Venezuela), Barquisimeto, and Paramaribo have been introduced, along with operations from Panama to the new Felipe Ángeles Airport in Mexico City.

Panama Pacifico has also seen increased flights to destinations such as Barranquilla, Santo Domingo, Havana, Quito, and some charters to Guayaquil and San José. Furthermore, both Tocumen and Rio Hato airports have experienced increased flights to and from Canada.

The strong growth continued with three new destinations opening in late June, connecting Panama to Manta in Ecuador and Baltimore. Additionally, this month of July saw the commencement of flights to Austin.

Factors Driving Passenger Demand:

ALTA attributes the surge in passenger demand and flight operations primarily to the international market, with significant growth observed from Venezuela. The number of flights between Panama City and five cities in Venezuela rose by 196%, with a particularly notable increase of 21% in flights to Caracas and 28% to Maracaibo.

Furthermore, there was an 18% increase in air connections with the Colombian market, a 53% increase to the Dominican Republic, and a 43% increase to Guatemala.

Robust First Half of 2023:

In the first half of 2023, Panama exceeded the number of passengers recorded during the same period in 2019 by 4.6%. The passenger count increased from 8.2 million to over 8.5 million.

Out of the total passengers in the first half of the year, approximately 6.1 million were in transit, accounting for 71.86% of all travelers. The remaining 2.4 million passengers either arrived in or departed from the country.

This trend continued in June, with 67% of passengers being in transit or transfer, out of a total of 1.4 million travelers for the month. Compared to June 2019, there was a 6.51% increase in the flow of passengers.

In June, the largest number of passengers came from South America, comprising 44% of the total, followed by North America with 28% and the Caribbean with 12%. Central America contributed around 10% of the passenger volume, while Europe represented 5% of the total monthly demand.

In short:

The surge in passenger flow at Tocumen International Airport and other Panamanian airports signals a promising recovery for the country's aviation industry. The increase in flight capacity, the addition of new routes, and the strong demand from international markets are positive indicators of Panama's resilience in the post-pandemic era. As connectivity expands and travel confidence rises, Panama is well-positioned to continue attracting travelers from around the world, contributing to the country's economic growth and development.