This Article was written by Sherly Diaz
KLM and Air Caraibe about to start operations to the isthmus
 There are about 10 airlines operating in Panama, and to this will be added at least three more during 2008, according to the Civil Aeronautics Authority AAC . Among the new companies that have expressed interest are Spirit Airlines, Air Caraibe, and KLM, which have manifested intentions to have direct and connecting flights to Panama, because of the increase in demand by foreigners who want to know our country or invest here.
One of the airlines already started direct flights 1ast February 1, between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Panama; it is Spirit Airlines, an American low cost airline. Flight days from the United States toward Panama are on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays; while return flights from Panama to the U.S.A. take place on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flights use an Airbus 319 with a 200 seat capacity.
However, Lilmarie Langmaid, Air Transportation Director of AAC, explained that once the route is fully approved, expect them to fly all seven days of the week.
This is a low cost airline that provides an option to fly to the United States at a reasonable price and has connecting flights. The cost of the ticket ranges between US$250 and US$350.
European Airline
KLM is a Dutch airline previously flew to Panama and wants to return and make connecting flights between Panama and Europe. The company has requested direct flights from Amsterdam to Panama and vice versa. The first flight is expected to take place March 30 and to have three flights a week: Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Flights will be in an MD-11 airplane with capacity for more than 290 passengers. Of these seats, about 270 will be economy and tourist seats and 24 executive seats. The sale promotion price from Panama City will be around US$1,025 including taxes. Axel Metselaar, General Manager of KLM for Panama said the request to start making direct flights was made in September 2007.
Ten years ago, KLM flew to Panama after making a connection in Costa Rica; however, the service was interrupted due to high costs and climatic problems in the neighboring country. Metselaar stated that it was decided to resume flights because of the partnership of the Panamanian Copa airline with SkyTeam which connects Panama to the whole of Latin America and the demand from foreigner people to visit the country. This airline Holland based does not rule out the possibility of increasing its frequency of flights since it is the airline policy to make several daily flights to its international destinations.
Other Airlines
 Another airline plans to offer service in Panama is Air Caraibe, a French airline that has traffic to Panama after making a stopover in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Operations have not started, however, it is known they have asked to provide the service seven days a week. This airline has smaller equipment, to know and Embraer with 150 seats. The route would be France, Port-au-Prince, and Panama, and from Panama to Costa Rica.
Langmaid pointed out that there is need for more flights to Europe because Panama is well connected with the American continent but not with the old continent, unless you take the Iberia airline option. According to the web page from the Panamanian Institute of Tourism IPAT , approximately 87,356 European visitors arrive in Panama annually, and they spend approximately between US$650 and US$700 on the average.
More Frequency
AAC forecasts an increase in the number of approved routes for 2008. Inclusive, the entity is trying to negotiate with Canada to study the possibility of signing an agreement on flights to the Panama however, the authority has indicated the market they are focusing on is in Europe.“We have requested bilateral meetings with Luxemburg, Italy, and Denmark. We have made a study of the countries that have asked for tourist’s charter flights, and since we know there is a need for them these come first and we are trying to make an approach requesting something in writing,” commented the civil servant.
In 2007 we had an interesting phenomenon because there were a total of 419 charter flights, or an increase of 89% as compared to 2006. This was due mainly to an increase of Venezuelan tourists coming to Panama as a tourist destination or with the option of doing some purchasing.
Also, there has been charter flights to the new beach hotels that the entity has authorized
and is bringing tourists exclusively to the hotels Decameron and Playa Blanca, and inclusive to other hotels in the capital city.
“They bring full flights exclusively for their services. Because of the congestion in the city, we are working on the possibility of opening Howard airport in order to receive the charter flights,” said Langmaid.
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