Panama
2.2.3 Panama Pacifico International Airport
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Airport Overview

The Panama Pacifico International Airport was a former U.S. Air Force Base.  On January 1, 2014, it was granted in concession to Tocumen, S.A., by Panama Pacifico Agency.  This airport is approximately 15 minutes from Panama City, in the Corregimiento of Veracruz, District of Arraijan.  Office Hours are from 06:00 a.m. -to- 10:00 p.m. Type of traffic allowed is VFR and IFR, currently geared at low cost Airlines, charter flights, as well as private, executive and official flights

It has an airstrip 2,591 meters long by 45 meters wide, has 5 taxiways and two platforms. The Fire Extinction Rescue Service at the airfield is Category 7. It provides fuel service to aircrafts through the company CLH, as well as other government services such as immigration, customs, health, quarantine, etc. 

Currently, the passenger terminal can handle up to two (2) flights simultaneously.  Nevertheless, when there are more than two flights, the space in general becomes more complex given the reduced area on the land and air sides, which causes delays


Airport Location and Contact

Country

Panama

Province or District

Panama West

Nearest Town or City
with Distance from Airport

Panama

600 m

Airport’s Complete Name

Panama Pacifico International Airport

Latitude

8.915

Longitude

79.59944444

Elevation (ft and m)

52 ft / 16 m

IATA Code

BLB

ICAO Code

MPPA

Managing Company or Airport Authority

Tocumen S.A.

Management Contact Person

Enot Arauz (Operations Manager)

 (+507) 316-1567  (+507) 316-1577

Open From (hours)

06:00

Open To (hours)

22:00


Airport Photo

The key areas of operation are the runway, taxiways, platform and the passenger terminal building.

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

The main services offered at the Panama Pacifico Airport are:

  • Airlines: WINGO, the company that tends passengers and service on platform is BLAS.
  • Other FBO services: MAPIEX, AEROSUPPORT, Aircraft Services, Rlab Media.
  • Fuel Service: CLH Panamá

For more information on airport contacts, please see the following link: 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List.

Information on some aviation service providers can be found at: http://www.azfreight.com/

Passenger and Cargo Performance Indicators

In regard to operation improvements, Panama Pacifico International Airport has an on-going certification process before the Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC), which leads to improvements in design and operations of the airdrome.  Also, in the near future, Panama Pacifico Airport foresees the expansion of the Passenger Terminal to service twice as much passengers, extensively enhancing the overall service at the terminal.

Performance for 2018

Per Year

Total Aircraft Movements

N/A

Total Passengers

259,514

Total Capacity of the Airport (MT)

N/A 

Current Activity of the Airport (MT)

N/A 


Currently there is a lack of adequate infrastructures to handle cargo, hence, it’s a topic to be developed, so as to render this service to Airlines.

Key restrictions are:

  • Operation hours for regular flights are restricted. Under discussion with Panama Pacifico Agency in order to expand. 
  • Lack of space to accommodate more passengers, offices and the kind, is a type of constraint for the growth of the airport. The short-term expansion plans and development of the Master Plan would greatly improve this situation.

Runways

The actual runway, in general, is in good condition. There are some areas that do require either maintenance or change of pavement due to some level of deterioration.

 Runway #1

Runway Dimensions

2,591 m x 45 m

Orientation


Surface

Tarmac


Helipads

Presently there is no helipad based on the ICAO standard.  However, an aircraft parking position may be used as parking for a helicopter.


Airport Infrastructure Details

The maintenance of equipment in the airdrome is provided by Maintenance Management.

The operation and security certification process of the airport will require the implementation of improvements.  It contemplates the expansion of the terminal and duplication of spaces, and currently process of installing the vertical and horizontal signage of the airport.


Customs

Yes

JET A-1 fuel

Yes

Immigration

Yes

AVGAS 100

Yes

Terminal Building

Yes

Single Point Refueling

Yes

Passenger Terminal

Yes

Air Starter Units

Yes

Cargo terminal

Yes

Ground Power (mobile)

Yes

Pax Transport to Airfield

Yes

Ground Handling Services

Yes

Control Tower

Yes

Latrine Servicing

Yes

Weather Facilities

Yes

Fire Fighting Category (ICAO)

Yes

Catering Services

Yes

De-icing Equipment

Yes

Base Operating Room

Yes

Parking Ramp Lighting

Yes

Airport Radar

Yes

Approach & Runway Lights

Yes

NDB

Yes

VOR

Yes

ILS

Yes



Airport Operation Details

Operating Details

Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Bulk Cargo

B737’s

Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Pallet

B737’s

Total Aircraft Parking Area (m²)

178,360

Storage Area (m3 and MT)

No facilities to handle cargo.

Handling Equipment

Elevators / Hi Loaders

None

Max Capacity (MT)


Max Height

(m)


Loading Ramps

No

 

Customs Guidance

Customs Office:           Panama Pacifico Special Economic Zone          

Work Hours:                 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.    

Address:                        Panama Pacifico Special Economic Zone, Building No. 1, in front of the Banco Nacional de Panama

Phone:                           504-2554         

Customs Zone:             Panama Pacifico Special Economic Zone


Airport Costs

Navigation Charges

At this moment the INTELISIS System for billing is being updated. The ideal would be to have an additional person assigned specifically for this task, given that the Operations Officer who carries out the billing, many times has to interrupt his work in order to comply with the documentation required by Statistics and Billing on a monthly basis.  There is only one person commissioned to receive cash payments Monday through Friday during office hours; hence it would be highly recommended to assign a cashier outside of office hours, since currently, operation officers are in charge of billing flights paid in cash.


Charges

Aircraft Weight - MTOW (kg)


0 - 7,000

7,001 - 136,000

136,001 and over

Navigation (per journey) USD - $

N/A N/A N/A

Landing USD - $

N/A N/A N/A

Night Landing USD - $

N/A N/A N/A

Night Take-Off USD - $

N/A

N/A

N/A

Parking

N/A

N/A

N/A

Handling Charges

N/A

N/A

N/A

Fuel Service Charges

Fuel charges are not handled at the airport, the contract itself is through Tocumen International Airport, S.A. (AITSA, for its acronym in Spanish) with Operations Management.


Price per Liter USD - $

Jet A-1

N/A

Avgas

N/A

Cargo Terminal Rates

Import Charges

Type of Charge

Rate USD - $ per kg

Comments

Handling Charge

N/A

N/A

Break Bulk Fee

 N/A

N/A

Diplomatic Mail

 N/A

N/A

Strong Room – per consignment

 N/A

N/A

Cold Storage Fee

 N/A

N/A

Delivery Outside Normal Working Hours

 N/A

N/A

Preparation of substitute AOA – Invoice – Receipt

 N/A

N/A

Storage per Day

N/A

N/A

Export

Handling Charges – Un-palletized Cargo

 N/A

N/A

International Air Waybill

 N/A

N/A

Local Air Waybill

 N/A

N/A

Air Way Bill Amendment - Cancellation

 N/A

N/A

Air Way Bill Documentation

 N/A

N/A

Diplomatic Mail

 N/A

N/A

Storage Charges per Day

 N/A

N/A

Security

Airport security is handled by the Security Management (AVSEC), supported by units of the SENAN (National Aeronaval Service) who patrol the airport premises off-airport-operating-hours.  Security is considered to be good, notwithstanding, there are areas where cameras and lights are recommended be placed to avoid vulnerabilities, as well as more security-trained personnel to attend risk areas and challenges from new airliners.

As to Aviation Security matters, there is international and national documentation which abide to Panamanian Regulations controlled by the Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (AAC), and the ICAO Annexes.



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