Tocumen International Airport in Panama will be granted in concession
The Tocumen International Airport will be granted in concession to a private company, as announced by President José Raúl Mulino, in a meeting in Paris with a group of French investors and businessmen.
Source: La Estrella de Panamá
The president told a group of French businessmen that they will grant the main air terminal in concession, but subject to the concession of other terminals such as David, in Chiriquí, Río Hato in Coclé and Colón.
The Panamanian president said that his government is considering granting the Tocumen International Airport, the main air terminal in the country, in concession. But this concession would be in conjunction with the airports of Colón, Río Hato and the city of David, in Chiriquí, indicated the statement from the Presidency.
The general manager of Tocumen, S.A., José Antonio Ruiz, said that there has indeed been discussion about the option of giving the country's main airport in concession to private companies, independently and not in a block with the rest of the terminals.
"But not with the block of the three airports that will be concessioned next year. Regarding Tocumen, the best option for the future of the country is being evaluated," he said.
The Tocumen International Airport is managed by Tocumen, S.A., a company 100% owned by the Panamanian State, created by Law 23 of January 29, 2003, regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Authority and subject to the laws applicable to the country's public institutions.
The Panamanian air terminal manages its own income, contributes to the State, the Panamanian Tourism Authorities, Civil Aeronautics; and the National Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Crimes.
In addition, it manages and operates a cargo terminal and the Enrique Malek regional terminals in Chiriquí; Panama Pacifico, in Panama West; Scarlett Martínez in Coclé and Enrique Jiménez in Colón.
In 2023, the airport delivered $5 million to the National Treasury in dividends corresponding to the fiscal year 2022, thus resuming payments since 2019. Before the pandemic, it paid between $20 and $25 million annually in dividends, according to information published on the airport's website.
This air terminal connects international commercial flights with scheduled itineraries to and from 83 cities, in 37 countries in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, North America and Europe, representing an important link in the reactivation of the Panamanian economy.
It has been recognized by the Official Aviation Guide (OAG) as one of the most connected airports in Latin America and the Caribbean, ranking fourth in its international connectivity ranking. Currently, it offers connections between more than 90 destinations in America and Europe. Between January and August 2024, Tocumen recorded 12.7 million passengers, largely driven by its role as a transfer point for international flights.
Mulino spoke about the possible concession of the airport in the presence of representatives of the aviation company Airbus Defence & Space, the tire producer Michellin, the cable car system developer MND, the bank Société Générale; NGE, a leader in construction, and the railway developer CIM.