Well, it is not the landing on the moon but it is close enough to that historic event for me. I have waited 5 years and I have wondered if we would ever see 737 heavy traffic here in David. It is a start that Air Panama has landed a 737 in Panama. Their new website lists Panama Tocumen as an option for departures, so maybe we will see direct flight from there to David soon, that would be a good first step.
My first contact in Panama, good friend and developer of the finest mountain community in Central America used to always say to Panamanian officials and investors interested in seeing the province of Chiriqui grow, “Don’t try to do many things, do only one thing, build a new airport in David.” And boy did they, a world class terminal and then they added to that a new 4 lane highway to Boquete at a cost of well over a hundred million dollars. (Thank you for allowing me to know you Sam Taliaferro) . Now folks, where have you ever seen a country throw it economic might like this at a small City in Central America and a terminal town high up in the mountains with a population of only 20,000 people. NOWHERE BUT HERE IN CHIRIQUI!
Boquete has been on the radar for many years and the AARP list of the top ten places to retire since I got here in 2006. The Chiriqui coast is probably the finest in Central America and home to some of the best deep sea fishing in the world, not to mention the dozens of “Gilligan’s Islands” located just offshore. I could go on for hours but invite you to come see for yourself WHY CHIRIQUI AND WHY BOQUETE.
Soon , we will have direct flights from Miami and Houston, yeah Baby!!
“…landed a Boeing 737 at Marcos. A. Gelabert”…..”The Boeing will cover the Panama-Chiriqui route”…
But hasn’t actually landed IN David. Is that correct ?
KR
Will it go non-stop David to Tocumen? Or will it just carry more people to Allbrook? Only the first option has any usefulness.
What name is this ? “Marcos. A. Gelabert de Albrook in David, Panama” ?
I’m dreaming of flying from David to Florida ,but, never heard of an airport with that name..
Is the author mistaken ?
Think real hard about the commitment an airline has to make to establish a new route, especially an international route between David and the USA. Station manager, desk agents, baggage handlers, landing rights, ground crew, etc. The traffic volume has to justify those costs. My travel agent in David says we are dreaming if we think there is an airline getting ready to inaugurate service to the USA. I would love to see it, but I have my doubts.
On Friday, August 9, Air Panama landed a Boeing 737 at Marcos. A. Gelabert de Albrook in David, Panama. This aircraft, with a capacity for 143 people, becomes the first of its kind that lands in this air terminal. The Boeing will cover the Panama-Chiriqui route and will also have other Central American countries as destinations.
Soon , we will have direct flights from Miami and Houston, yeah Baby!!
Dear Mr. Brymer;
I suggest you check with your source and read the story more closely. That plane flew from France to Iceland to Halifax to Marcos A. Gelabert which is at Albrook, Ancon, Panama City. The plane is intended for charter only and not for the Panama, Chiriqui route. Air Panama uses the Fokker 100 for the Panama – Chiriqui route. You can’t trump my source and now you have everybody on your mailing list excited about your story which is baseless and false. Please publish a correction as soon as possible.
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This is not the name of the airport in David. Aeropuerto Marcos Gelabert is in Albrook, in Panama City. The Airport in David is called Enrique Malek. Which part of this story do you have wrong?
Tom,
When David starts accepting direct flights from Miami or Houston, I will be moving to Boquete. The area will see a huge influx of expats when that happens and I’ll be one of them. I recently visited Boquete and confirmed that it is one of the places where I would love to spend my retirement years. I didn’t make it to the beaches this trip, but will next time and I’m sure I’ll fall in love with that area, too.
I’m keeping a close eye on developments and will be one of the first to arrive when this happens.
Tim Hull
Just returned from a 2-week visit to panama.
Drove from Panama to Boquette. The new David/Boquette highway portion is a great improvement and easy traveling.
Also flew back from David to Panama on a new 737. The new David Terminal was very efficient and a very quick flight
back to Panama city. Had agreat time sorry I missed you but did have a great Italian dinner with Art and Stacey. We stayed
at a very nice home in the Alto Aquil area next to there home in the Boquette higlands.
Hope to catch you next time.
with regards, john a.