I can remember my first trip to Panama and flying into David on a prop plane that looked like it had seen many years of service. Of course, having traveled all over the world many time over many years it did not phase me. I remember flying a DC 3 into the interior when visiting India so I was used to interesting modes of travel to say the least. Well, get ready folks, we are going to see the opening of our new terminal in David at the Enrique Malek International Airport next year. This as well as a roadway expansion to Boquete involving over $200 million of infrastructure, is sure to be a major game changer for our market area.
Flight options are expanding and we will soon enjoy direct access from Tocumen International Airport in Panama City and we now have regional Jet service now flying in from Albrook. Soon we will enjoy direct flights into David from cities like Miami and Houston. The runways are lengthened and hardened for 737 heavy traffic and the new terminal will be capable of handling multiple arrivals. You can see the progress at the website dedicated to the efforts of direct flights here
If your drill into the website you can see the progress that the organization has made towards the direct flight efforts and the money that has been raised and ongoing efforts including codesharing amongst major airlines. More….
I found an interesting paper written on the impact of the opening of the International Airport in Liberia Costa Rica and it is something you should read as it outlines the potential for our market. Of course with all this growth comes some growing pains but the progress will be good for all over time as our sleepy little province matures into a major destination. Please let me know if you would like a copy of the paper or you have any questions about Panama Real Estate.
I’ll miss the taxi ride from airport to airport in PC, but I really can live without it 🙂
I see the expansion of the airport in David as a little premature in view of the infrastructure that will be required to handle the large increase in travellers.
The roads that feed the airport are clogged with traffic at almost all hours of daylight, especially when the schools are letting out; St. Francis of Asisi being a major bottleneck on the east-west route.
The current layout of David as a small provincial town does not allow for quick transit from the Pan American Highway to the airport. This needs to be addressed quickly since most travellers will be heading to the many fantastic tourist destinations outside of the city.
I hope the government will be able to open an alternate route through the countryside that bypasses the downtown area, for everyone’s sake. It will open up new areas for hotels and tourist related buisnesses in the process.
Too bad it is not AirPanama teaming up wirh American to fly from Miami International to David.
I will not fly Copa and take a chance of being bumped again and stuck in a terminal trying to
find another flight (as Copa was no help). We were hours late, missed an appointment and had to
pay $300.00 plus for additional food and lodgings. I also do not like to fly Aerperlas. I’d rather taxi across the city than book a flight with Copa.