Most travelers assume that Panama has just one international airport. After all, nearly everyone arriving from Europe, North America, or South America lands at the enormous Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. While Tocumen is by far the country's busiest gateway, it is certainly not the only airport capable of handling international flights. In fact, Panama has several international airports scattered across the country, each serving a different purpose. Some welcome scheduled international airlines every day, while others receive seasonal charter flights or occasional services from neighboring countries. Choosing the right airport can save hours of travel and put you much closer to your final destination.
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Tocumen International Airport is not only Panama's largest airport but also one of the most important aviation hubs in Latin America. Located about 24 kilometres east of downtown Panama City, it serves as the home of Copa Airlines and is known throughout the aviation world as the "Hub of the Americas."
Unlike most airports in Central America, Tocumen is designed around connecting passengers. Every day, hundreds of flights arrive from across North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe before departing again only a short time later. This allows travelers to connect between dozens of cities without ever leaving the airport.
From Tocumen you can fly directly to major cities including New York, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Mexico City, Cancún, San José, San Salvador, Guatemala City, Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, Quito, Guayaquil, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Aruba, Curaçao, Punta Cana, Havana, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, and many more destinations. In total, the airport offers nonstop flights to around 90 destinations in more than 35 countries.
The airport itself is modern and constantly expanding. It features two large terminals connected together, numerous restaurants, cafés, duty free shopping, airline lounges, currency exchange offices, car rental companies, hotels nearby, and even a Metro station connecting directly to Panama City.
For almost every visitor flying to Panama from overseas, Tocumen will remain the main point of entry.
Panama Pacífico International Airport (BLB)
Many visitors have never even heard of Panama Pacífico International Airport, yet it serves international flights every week.
Located on the western side of the Panama Canal at the former Howard Air Force Base, this airport is primarily used by the Colombian low cost airline Wingo.
Today its scheduled international routes mainly connect Panama with several cities in Colombia. Depending on the season and airline schedules, flights operate to destinations such as Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Cartagena and San Andrés Island. Routes occasionally change as airlines adjust their networks, but Colombia remains the airport's primary international market.
The airport is much smaller than Tocumen, allowing passengers to clear immigration and collect luggage quickly. For travelers staying on the west side of Panama City or flying with Wingo, Panama Pacífico can actually be far more convenient.
Scarlett Martínez International Airport, Río Hato (RIH)
Located in Río Hato on Panama's Pacific coast, Scarlett Martínez International Airport was built specifically to support the country's growing beach tourism industry.
Instead of flying into Panama City and driving for two hours, vacationers can arrive just minutes from Playa Blanca, Buenaventura, Santa Clara, Farallón, and several all inclusive beach resorts.
For many years the airport mainly welcomed seasonal charter flights from Canada carrying holidaymakers escaping the northern winter. More recently, Panama has been working to expand international service. In 2026, direct weekly flights from Quito, Ecuador began operating, bringing visitors straight to Panama's Pacific Riviera without needing to transfer through Panama City.
Although still much quieter than Tocumen, Río Hato continues to grow as Panama tries to encourage tourists to visit destinations beyond the capital.
Enrique Malek International Airport, David (DAV)
David's Enrique Malek International Airport is western Panama's principal airport and serves the province of Chiriquí.
Although it is officially an international airport with customs and immigration facilities, there are currently no regularly scheduled international passenger flights operating from David. Most flights connect with Panama City through domestic airlines.
In the past there have been international services to San José, Costa Rica, and the Panamanian government continues working to attract direct international routes. Tourism authorities and business organizations have repeatedly proposed flights from destinations such as Costa Rica, Colombia, and additional regional markets because David is the natural gateway to Boquete, Volcán Barú, Cerro Punta, Boca Chica, and the beautiful highlands of Chiriquí.
If those routes continue to develop, David could become one of Panama's most important tourism airports outside the capital.
Bocas del Toro International Airport (BOC)
Bocas del Toro International Airport sits on Isla Colón, right in the heart of Panama's Caribbean paradise.
The airport has international status and has occasionally handled flights from nearby Costa Rica as well as private international aircraft. However, like David, it currently has very limited scheduled international passenger service, with most commercial flights arriving from Panama City.
Even so, the airport remains an important part of Panama's tourism infrastructure because it allows customs and immigration processing whenever international services operate.
Stepping outside the terminal immediately places visitors just minutes from Bocas Town's colourful waterfront, restaurants, dive shops, hostels, and water taxis heading to the surrounding islands.
Changuinola International Airport (CHX)
Few visitors realize that Changuinola, near the Costa Rican border, also has an airport with international designation.
Located in the heart of Panama's banana growing region, it was developed largely to support regional commerce and cross border connections. Today it sees very little international passenger traffic and is used primarily for domestic and private operations.
Why Does Panama Have So Many International Airports?
Many countries only designate one or two airports for international flights, but Panama's geography makes multiple international airports useful.
The country stretches nearly 800 kilometres from Costa Rica to Colombia, with beach resorts, mountain towns, tropical islands, and business centres spread across different regions. Having customs and immigration facilities outside Panama City allows charter airlines, private aircraft, seasonal flights, and future scheduled services to arrive much closer to where tourists actually want to go.
As Panama continues developing its tourism industry, airports such as David and Río Hato are expected to play an increasingly important role in bringing international visitors directly to western Panama and the Pacific coast rather than routing everyone through the capital.
For now, Tocumen International Airport remains Panama's undisputed global gateway, handling the overwhelming majority of international passengers. Panama Pacífico offers scheduled international flights focused mainly on Colombia, Río Hato serves seasonal tourism and new international services such as Quito, while David, Bocas del Toro, and Changuinola are international airports with customs facilities that are positioned for future growth. Together, they give Panama an aviation network that is far more extensive and flexible than many first time visitors ever expect.