This article was written by Sherly Diaz
From January to July 2007 there were 53,170 air flights
 The increase in air operations has held steady at between 10% and 13% during the last three years, which points to the need to continue investing in airports and other air facilities.
From January to July 2007, a total of 53,170 air operations took place in the country’s airports. Of these, the Marcos A. Gelabert, Enrique A.Jimenez, Enrique Malek, ad the one in Colon Island in Bocas del Toro, saw the biggest activity increase.
According to figures provided by the Civil Aeronautics Directorate, during 2006 there were a total of 305,072 domestic flight passengers, while in 2005 the total was 282,518 in country passenger which reveals an increase of 8%.
The tourist development has created an interest for people to know the country, and as a result during 2006 and 2007 a program for maintenance of aerial infrastructure was developed, especially in the airports of David, Chiriqui Province, Boca del Toro and Veraguas.
In David, a fire station was built, upgrading the capability of this location to the required standards for airplane firefighting and rescue missions. Approximately 111,995 passengers flew from the Panama City to this region of the country. At this location, a new perimeter fence is being built and rental car agencies are being moved to a new location to give more space for passengers, this is in addition to a new radio tower now under construction.
Gregorio Monteser, advisor to the director of Civil Aeronautics Authority AAC said that this kind of investments is important to provide more confidence and steadiness to the flow of air transportation. This year, in Bocas del Toro airport the perimeter fence and a fire station were completed.
Presently, the passenger terminal is being remodeled to double its capacity and a new control tower will be built. The investment at the airport surmounts US$1 million. During 2006, 58,662 passengers were moved between Panama City and Bocas del Toro.
In Santiago de Veraguas, the perimeter fence was built, and the landing strip is being resurfaced and a new passenger terminal will be constructed. This airport is of great important for all national routes, since it is a half-way location for all flights that travel to Chiriqui Province.
Future investments
In 2008, AAC expects to have an investment plan of over US$4 million, of which US$2.4 million will be set aside for the acquisition and rehabilitation of equipment and close to US$1.6 million for airport rehabilitation and maintenance.
This year, the airport in David will continue with the expansion of loading gates in order to be capable of handling large airplanes B737-800 . Presently, bids are being requested for a project that will provide the airport with better access roads.
At the international airport in Bocas del Toro, for bids for construction of the landing strip shoulders and installation of a lighting system, and a parking area are now open.
By summer 2008, it is expect to finish the airport in San Miguel. This landing strip will be as a spearhead for the Isla del Rey. Work will consist of the construction of a 600 meter long and 10 meter wide concrete runway, shoulder works, turning area for the airplanes, and a complete system of signs and signals. Another air terminal to undergo renovation is El Porvenir, in San Blas, where bidding has been opened to repave the runway and built a rampart. “This is the airport that will allow for the recovery of San Blas as far as tourism is concerned”, said Montecer.
Also, construction of a runway is to take place at the airport in Puerto Obadia, on the border between Panama and Colombia, which is of great importance as far as tourism, and social and strategic aspects are concerned.
Calzada Larga Airport
 A press release from AAC reveals this project will be completed at a cost of more than US$559,000 dollars. Work consists of the construction of a 500 meters long and 10 meters wide runway, located in an area in accordance with approach norms of civil aviation. Also, the Calzada Larga airport will be rebuilt to convert it into a center for professional specialization. Maintenance was already provided for the perimeter fence, green areas, garbage dumping locations, and improvement of the runway signals.
In addition, there is interest in assisting airports with touristic possibilities like San Blas, Garachine-Darien, and the Real de Santa Maria; the focus on this one is to build an airport because it is in an important forest reserve. Likewise, in the budget there is an entry for the runway on the airport in Penonome, Province of Cocle, for the resurfacing of the landing strip and improvements in the terminal building.
At the airport in Albrook, an investment will be made to the terminal building in order to have more space and bring more efficient services to its passengers; to include, changes in location for customs services, and immigration, parking areas are also being contemplated. During summer of next year, work will begin to repave the runway in Jaque, in Darien, and a new airport will be built in the same location but more modern and with better conditions.
Eduardo Stagg, Manager of Air Panama, is of the opinion that the investments from AAC are adequate by reason of budgeting constraints but not sufficient like users would like them to be. The executive pointed out that these investments increase the margin of security; they facilitate operations, and provide comfort better to passengers. He indicated that among the airports with a potential to increase due to tourism are those in Puerto Obadia, San Miguel, Jaque, and El Porvenir.
Air Panama flies more frequently to destinations in David, Bocas del Toro, Contadora, and San Blas. Last year approximately 150,000 passengers were flown.
Rio Hato
AAC indicated that it is presently evaluating the situation of the airport in Rio Hato; inclusive, it has held meetings with the Panamanian Tourism Institute IPAT and with the Panamanian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture. Montecer, pointed out that the present runway is 1,300 meters long, not capable of handling heavy airplanes, and there is a study regarding the possibility to relocate it to some other place. The objective is to maintain in that region a runway big enough to be able to handle heavy airplanes in a runway 2,500 to 3,000 meters long equipped with lights, fuel installations, approaching equipment, a fire station, and adequate passenger terminal.
The new location has not been chosen yet, but it should be in an area that will help in the development of Arco Seco, as well as the beaches in the sector including those that are located in Azuero.
The terrain of Rio Hato airport has 189 hectares of which 105 correspond to the area to the North From the Pan-american Highway toward the North , and 84 in the area to the West From the Pan-american Highway West toward the coast .
Closed terminals
Panama has 42 private airdromes; nine of them heliports, and 29 officially operating small fields under the Civil Aeronautics Authority. However, the runway in Aguadulce was closed and the terrain was transferred to the National System for Civil Protection SINAPROC so a heliport and an emergency operations center for the central provinces could be located there.
The airport of Yaviza, located in the Province of Darien, practically has remained non-operational after development along the Pan-american Highway.
Meanwhile, legal conditions at the airport in San Lorenzo in Colon are under review since although at present it is operational, the consortium that assumed its administration did not make the corresponding investments.
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Douglas M. Choy at
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