This is good news for Panama and shows the importance of regional airports. More of them like ours in David need more direct international flights.

In 2016 30,670 passengers passed through the Scarlett Martinez terminal, 63% more than in 2015, a rise which is mainly explained by an increase in the arrival of charter flights.

From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama:

Visitor traffic in the Scarlett Martinez International Airport in the province of Cocle, improved significantly in 2016 compared to the previous year, reveals a report submitted by the Air Transport Directorate at the Civil Aviation Authority to the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP).

Based on the two airlines that run charter flights to the terminal in Rio Hato, (Sunwing and Air Transat), passenger numbers experienced a relative increase of 62.9% in 2016, representing 11,847 more passengers compared to 2015.