The Panama Metro with the adoption of payment with contactless Mastercard and VISA cards, envisages attracting more passengers to the public transport system, both national and tourists, since in just seven months it has registered more than one million trips.

This figure reflects not only the successful adoption of the implementation of contactless payment technology, but also the positive acceptance by Panamanians in mass public transport, marking a significant advance in modernization in the region.

From February to August 2023, the number of trips in the Panama Metro has doubled with contactless prepaid, debit or credit cards, which shows that the introduction of this technology has given passengers a more comfortable travel experience, and this has also meant a saving in time for users, by not having to recharge to use public transport.

In fact, cards from more than 60 countries around the world have been used in the Panama Metro in these first months of the service, also prompted by the inauguration this year of the Airport Station, which connects the Metro with Tocumen Airport.

During the month of August 2023, 160,000 trips with Mastercard and VISA cards were exceeded in the Panama Metro, a figure that demonstrates the high influx of users that this technological incorporation has brought to local transport where they can pay directly at the tourniquete through contactless, prepaid, credit or debit cards, from any bank, financial institution or Fintech, in addition to cell phones and other devices.

Looking to the future, the Financial Administrator of the Integrated Public Transport System of Panama City, SONDA is committed to the development of what he calls Transport 4.0 in Panama that contributes to the evolution of the city to a “Smart City”, providing innovations that facilitate the integration of public transport means with a new generation of digital payments, and real-time information systems for operators and users.