Panama flight

In November and December, Condor of Germany and Tame of Ecuador, will start  commercial flights from Panama’s Tocumen International Airport.

The Ecuadorian airline will make its first commercial flight to Panama on December 1, whereas the German airline has programed  to fly early November.

Tame will have a frequency of six flights per week, excluding Saturdays and will cover two routes a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Quito to Panama, while on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from Guayaquil to Panama.

The Panamanian market is familiar to Tame, the airline already performed two charter flights to Panama every seven days.

“We realized we had an opportunity to establish weekly flights and hope in the first months an occupation of 75%,” said Maurice Benaim, manager of Tame in Panama.

For its part, the German airline Condor is only waiting for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to give its approval to begin flights to Panama.

The company will have direct flights to Panama from the German city of Frankfurt with a 45-minute stopover in the Dominican Republic.

Besides these two airlines in 2011 Panama is awaiting the arrival of new companies, including Qantas of Australia, who will perform a scale of four days in Havana, Cuba, and then fly to Panama, where passengers will spend another four days, then return to their country. In November, Panama will take the first step to get airlines of the UAE interested in flying to Panama.

Rafael Barcenas, director of AAC, said during the forum hosted by the Latin American Air Transport Association (ALTA) Panama will sign a bilateral agreement with the UAE, which would allow companies such as Emirates Airlines and Flydubai set frequencies that include Panama.

For the next year also has been set the arrival of the Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA), which is awaiting the results of the technical study on their new model Boeing Dreamliner to negotiate with Panama a direct flight between the two countries.

On Saturday October 23 was the first trip of the Dutch Antilles Express Company (DAE) to Panama.

The airline was founded in 2005 will have two flights a week between Curacao and Panama. Floris Van Pollan, CEO of the company, said the airline operates flights to Venezuela, Colombia and the Dominican Republic but said that Panama will be the first Central American destination that the company will cover.

Article courtesy of Estrategia & Negocios

For information regarding getting to Panama, places to go, and things to see contact one of our travel experts today.

i...@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-202-1111 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)

Getting around…

Panama has a good domestic flight network, the main domestic airlines are Mapiex and Aeroperlas, assessed by the US Federal Aviation as operated in compliance with international aviation standards. All domestic airlines operate out of Panama’s main domestic airport, Aeropuerto Marcos A. Gelabert, located in the Albrook area of Panama City, commonly known as Albrook Airport. Be aware that baggage weight allowance on domestic flights is a total of 25 lbs. for checked baggage and carry on combined. You will also be asked to state your body weight at check in. The small domestic planes have maximum weight limits. Overweight charges (for baggage) varies according to destination, but is rarely more than $1.00 per pound.

Car rental…

Car rental is fairly expensive in Panama. Car rental agencies have offices at most airports, and locations in main cities. Major rental agencies include National, Thrifty, Budget, Avis and Hertz. Rates generally include mandatory insurance and unlimited mileage. To rent a car, you must be 25 years of age (23 if you pay by AMEX) and hold a valid driver’s license. When you accept your rental car be sure to inspect it carefully and note any damages, scratches, or missing items on the rental agreement, as you could be charged when the car is returned.

Taxis…

In Panama City and other major cities, it is not necessary to rent a car as taxis are reasonably priced and readily available – except when it is raining! Taxis can be hailed on the street and often sound their horn to show their availability. Don’t be surprised that the taxi that stops for you already contains other passengers. Taxis do not operate with meters although there are fixed rates for certain destinations. Do not be afraid to bargain for longer distances. Consult your hotel information desk for rate recommendations. Taxis can also be rented by the hour or for longer periods.

Bus services…

Panama has an excellent, inexpensive bus system linking most communities in the country. The main bus terminal is close to Albrook Airport. Routes between major cities are served by large Mercedes air-conditioned buses with video screens and reclining seats. Coaster buses run on smaller town links. The buses are very cheap. However, smaller urban and suburban routes can be slow and crowded.

source:Business Panama

For information regarding getting to Panama, places to go, and things to see contact one of our travel experts today.

i...@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-202-1111 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)

Panama is the land bridge between two continents and divides two oceans, making it a crossroads of the world. Each year hundreds of cruise ships transit a modern wonder of the world, the Panama Canal. International Airlines serving Panama include not only those from North and South America but also from Spain, Russia, Taiwan and Israel. The following cities in the USA are currently the main connection points for flights to and from Panama: Miami, Orlando, Houston, Newark, New York, Washington DC, Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Panama’s International Airport is Tocumen International Airport, 35 Kilometers from downtown Panama City.

Panama’s national airline COPA flies to major cities in South America and cities in the USA in alliance with Continental Airlines.

Land crossings are also possible from Costa Rica with border points at Paso Canoas, Sixaola/Guabito and Rio Sereno. However, there are no roads linking Panama and Colombia. Panama City is approximately 5000 km by road from the nearest US city Brownsville, Texas. However, the costs of insurance, fuel, permits, accommodations etc. usually amount to more than the cost of an airline ticket, so most visitors choose to fly and rent a car upon arrival in Panama.

For information regarding getting to Panama, places to go, and things to see contact one of our travel experts today.

i...@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-202-1111 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)

This is brief overview of entry requirements for Panama.

All visitors require a valid passport and an onward/return ticket.

Additional requirements vary according to nationality and are subject to change. You are recommended to check with a Panamanian Consulate or Embassy or ticketing agents for airlines that fly to Panama to obtain the most updated information.

At the time of writing, nationals from the following countries do NOT REQUIRE any further documentation: Argentina, Austria, Belgium Costa Rica, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxemburg, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland and UK.

Nationals from the following countries do REQUIRE a tourist card (US $5) or a tourist visa, available from Panamanian embassies and consulates, airlines serving Panama, border crossings, or at the international airport : Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Granada, Greece, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan, Tobago, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela.

Nationals from Chad, Ecuador, Egypt, Philippines, Peru, Dominican Republic and Thailand require tourist visas and should contact an embassy or consulate.

If your country is not listed above, contact your nearest Panamanian Consulate or Embassy or the Panamanian Immigration office Tel: 507-227-1448 Fax: 507-227-1227

Upon entry, every visitor is given a stamp allowing him or her to remain in Panama as a tourist for 90 days. This may be extended by applying to an immigration office in Panama City, David or Chitre, the only offices that can issue an extension.

For information regarding Pensionado and other Residence Visas, 2nd Passports etc. click here

You may enter Panama with 200 cigarettes and 3 bottles of liquor tax free. If you try to leave Panama with articles made from endangered species you may be severely punished.

Please note: There is a US$20 departure tax when you leave Panama.

Source: Business Panama

For information regarding getting to Panama, places to go, and things to see contact one of our travel experts today.

i...@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-202-1111 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)

Panamanian airline Copa is making a big bet: You’re tired of waiting around in overrun airports for long flights home.

To make the most of its central location between north and south, it is billing itself as a so-called “hub of the Americas.” Traditionally Miami and Silo Paulo have been the main points for jetting among Latin American airports, but that could change. The regional market, especially business travelers, has proven to be a lucrative niche.

Passengers say they like the shorter flights they take on Copa planes. Paolo Allegrini, South and Central America sales manager for the Plymouth, a U.S. rubber company, says he spends more than half of his working time flying up and down the Americas. Traveling from Brazil to Medellin or Caracas may be a bit of a headache, but connections at Panama City are swift and quite hassle free, he says. “The Panama hub is a great convenience,” he says. “Most of the time it works out quicker and much cheaper than Varig.”

While Copa has done all it can to boost business by making connections less stressful for high-margin business passengers, politics may help it out even more. Panama City has thrown its hat into the ring to host the permanent secretariat of the Free Trade Area or the Americas (FTAA), a hemispheric trade pact being negotiated by the 34 countries in the hemisphere. The city that lands this secretariat will create thousands of jobs. Miami and Port of Spain, Trinidad, among others, are also vying for the spot.

Even as fuel costs rise and competitors pull back, the carrier hasn’t been afraid to grow. From its Tocumen airport base in Panama City, Copa has expanded its network to 31 destinations in 20 countries, including most of South America’s capital cities. In January, Copa added new routes to Buenos Aires and the number of weekly flights with Brazil has risen to 11. It’s now adding a new daily flight to Sao Paulo and to Buenos Aires and increasing the number frequencies it services to other destinations such as Cancun and Orlando, Florida.

Copa, which is private, does not reveal how much money it makes, but it is an expanding airline in a crisis-ridden industry. Its available seat mileage rate, which measures its capacity to carry passengers, grew 13% in 2003. In 2004, the company expected traffic to grow another 13% and then jump to 21% in 2005.

Emboldened, in 2004 Copa bought 10 Embraer 190 jets. The airline has an option to buy another 20, which could bring the deal to $900 million. It was the first order for that type of aircraft by a Latin American carrier. The purchase also adds to its fleet of 29 Boeing 737s.

Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron brushes off concern about any increased overhead and the extra costs of maintaining a fleet of mixed aircraft. Before the purchase of the Embraer planes, Copa operated only Boeing planes. “We took a close look at all the factors involved, and this was the best option,” he says. “We end up gaining from this choice.”

Purchasing aside, the carrier will strengthen the synergies it has with Continental by joining the Sky Team international alliance of airlines, which includes Air France-KLM and Delta Airlines. Copa is now an associate member.

Strength. Even suppliers say Copa is a success. “It’s a business model for the industry. Few airlines have been able to weather the storm in recent years,” says Fred Curado, vice president of Embraer. “Fleet diversification is a brave move. It’s exactly what JetBlue has been doing,” Curado says, referring to U.S. low-cost pioneer JetBlue.

Copa Chairman Alberto Motta, now well into his 80s, recalls years ago when he joined Panamanian carrier Copa as a director. While still the controlling stakeholder in Copa, Motta today has taken a backseat to day-to-day company affairs. His most telling business move dates back from 1998, when he sold a 49% stake in Copa to Continental Airlines for an undisclosed sum.

The backing of a solid international partner allowed him to expand the company well beyond Central America’s borders. It also gave the airline enough financial muscle to endure the bruises the airline industry would take in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. “This considerably strengthened our credit position as we were able to start buying aircraft and expand,” says Motta.

Once upon a time, Copa flew only to Costa Rica on a DC-3 aircraft. Today, the carrier flies 1.6 million passengers a year across the hemisphere. It has a long way to go: American Airlines, long the region’s biggest carrier, says it has 703 planes and flew 15 million passengers through its Miami hub.

THIERRY OGIER * PANAMA CITY

COPYRIGHT 2005 Freedom Magazines, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

For information regarding getting to Panama, places to go, and things to see contact one of our travel experts today.

i...@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-202-1111 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)