Panama may soon be four-point aero hub

From The Bulletin Panama

Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, which prides itself on being the aero hub of the Americas may soon be able to add “and the world.”

New direct Trans-Atlantic direct flights have started and there is talk of Trans-Pacific flights coming next year.

Part of this new connectivity can be attributed to the active promotion of Panama as a preferred tourist destination coupled with negotiations with international airlines by the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) to increase the country’s already stellar air connectivity.

Panama City serves as the hub of the Americas, connecting millions of passengers and cargo consignments to and from destinations in North and South America.

Direct flights have been identified as a major contributor to direct tourism.  Travelers are just that much more likely to visit a destination when they do not have to take a connecting flight or flights.  The ATP has set out to obtain more direct flights into Tocumen International Airport, and has already had much success with many more exciting direct destinations coming in 2011.

More flights to Spain

Iberia’s new business class is a popular option for trans-continental travelers, and it’s available on the Madrid to Panama direct flight.

In October, Iberia, the Madrid-based Spanish carrier, now merged with British Airways, began offering four direct flights per week between Panama City and Madrid.  Flight time is reduced to 10 hours. This direct flight comes to Tocumen International Airport every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 5.15 p.m. and leaves for Madrid Barajas Airporton the same days at 9.15 p.m.

Six weekly from Amsterdam

Amsterdam is also a major transportation hub in Northern Europe, just as Panama City is to Latin America.

Air France-KLM has augmented flight frequency between Amsterdam and Panama City to six weekly, which represents a 50% increase in flights to and from Panama.  A new KLM flight started operations on November 1, sharing flight codes with Copa Airlines and connecting passengers in Panama City to Guatemala.

COPA keeps growing

Panama’s own Copa Airlines has a multitude of direct flights throughout the Americas and keeps on adding destinations and offering connections from its Hub of the Americas inPanama City.

It now serves 45 destinations in 24 countries.

Starting on December 18, Copa Airlines will fly direct from Panama City to the Caribbean island of St. Martin. The new flight will depart from Panama on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 12:22 p.m. and arrive in St. Martin at 4:17 p.m. The return flight leaves St. Martin on the same days at 5:30 p.m., landing in Panama at 7:44 p.m.

Condor is coming

Germany’s Condor just began offering direct flights to and from Frankfurt on Fridays.

Copa Airlines and Condor made an agreement that will allow the German carrier to increase its bid in 22 Latin American destinations. This November, Condor – an airline owned by Lufthansa – will bring passengers directly from Frankfurt to Panama City and connect passengers going to other South American destinations.  The flight is every Friday and the airline expects to increase frequency in the future

Increased flights to Ecuador

Tame of Ecuador recently announced six flights weekly to Panama City.

Starting December 1, Tame Airlines will have six weekly flights connecting Panama with Ecuador: three flights to and from Quito and three to and from Guayaquil.

Direct Pacific flights due

Many new flights are on the horizon for Panama in the coming year. Qantas of Australia will fly with a vacation package, flight included with four days in Havana, Cuba, and then four days in Panama before returning down under.

The airlines of the United Arab Emirates are said to be interested in Panama as a destination for their flights as well.

There have also been reports that TAM of Brazil and LAN of Chile, who are planning a giant merger to be christened LATAM, are coming to Panama and word is out about direct flights to Japan and South Korea.