News

Airline passenger traffic in Panama increased by 8.1 percent in the last three years, as airlines grew the number of flights and more people visited the country for tourism and business, a new study found.

In Panama City alone, Tocumen International Airport saw traffic increase from 5.04 million passengers in 2010 to 7.8 million in 2013, according to a reporter by Airline Network News & Analysis (anna.aero). Passenger traffic into Panama City grew by an annual rate of 12 percent between 2003 and 2013, an impressive trajectory for any market.

While much of the growth can be attributed to the aggressive expansion of home-based Copa

Airlines, the big international carriers are also expanding their Panama flights. United launched direct service between Panama City and Denver in December, and Air Canada launched direct flights with Toronto a few days later.

Growth is expected to continue, with more flights to airports around Panama’s smaller cities, which are attracting more international travelers and Panama City residents, who are taking advantage of access to Panama’s diverse offerings. In January, market leader Copa launched its first domestic flights, four daily trips between Panama City and David, the capital of the province of Chiriquí,

The report offers a variety of intriguing details about passenger traffic and the role of different airlines. Read more here.

Duncan McGowan is president of Punta Pacifica Realty, a Panama real estate agency focused on Punta Pacifica, the exclusive neighborhood of 18 towers perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.