Panama City Tocumen Airport (PTY) – All You Need to Know

Tocumen International Airport is the international airport serving Panama City, the capital of Panama. Tocumen is the largest airport in Panama and serves as the regional hub for flights to and from The Caribbean, South, North and Central America. In addition to this, the airport offers several flights to Europe as well.

During World War II, several airports were built around the Panama Canal for defense purposes. Tocumen Airport’s original terminal, opened in 1947, now serves as a cargo terminal. The current passenger terminal building was inaugurated in 1978 and remains in use today. 

General Information

ATA: PTY
ICAO: MPTO
Passengers: ~ 18 million

Getting from the Tocumen Airport to Panama City

Panama City International Airport is located 20km northeast of Panama City. The ride from the airport to the city centre will take around 30 minutes if the traffic is normal, and up to 2 hours during the rush hour.

Below you will find all the important information about the transportation options from  Tocumen Airport to Panama City.

Bus

The cheapest transportation option from the airport to Panama city is a public bus offered by Metro Bus. If you wish to use Metro Bus services, you will have to purchase a prepaid card at the airport for 2 USD. Bus fare to any destination will cost 0.25 USD. The trip to downtown Panama city will take approximately an hour.

Bus routes from the Tocumen airport:

• Tocumen (Ave. Ricardo J. Alfaro, Transístmica / Vía España)
• December 24 (Ave. Ricardo J. Alfaro, Transístmica / Vía España)
• Paso Blanco (Via Spain)
• Felipillo (Via Spain)
• Pacora (Via Spain)
• Chepo (Via Spain)

A free alternative to Metro Bus is offered by The Panama Tourism Authority. They organized a free roundtrip transportation service to the Metromall Shopping Center. Metro Mall is located about 15 minutes from the airport and it is a great option for shopping.

From Monday to Saturday, these buses depart from 10 am to 12 pm and on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

Taxi

Taking a taxi is the fastest way to get to Panama City from Tocumen Airport. Official taxis at Tocumen airport are Amber Luna and Radio Taxi Plaza Tocumen. The waiting area is just outside the arrivals area at both terminals. Make sure to agree on the price before you embark on a ride to avoid any unnecessary situations.

Uber is also available at Tocumen Airport. The cost of your Uber drive will depend on your destination, the type of ride you requested and other factors.

You will have to wait for your Uber somewhere outside of the arrivals area; the commonly used pickup location is the airport’s parking.

Metro

You can also use Metro De Panama to get from Tocumen airport to Panama City. The Metro De Panama consists of two metro lines. Line 1 connects San Isidro and Albrook, while Line 2 connects Nuevo Tocumen and San Miguelito. Have in mind that there is no metro station near the airport, so you will have to get a bus or a taxi to reach one.

Car hire

For those who prefer to explore Panama on their own, the best option would be a car hire at the airport. At PTY Airport, you will find major car rental agencies such as Hertz, Sixt, Budget, and Europcar. You will find them located inside Terminal 1, at the end of level 100.

However, you can rent a car online and avoid the potentially long queues at the airport. 

Transfer

Another way to travel from Tocumen Airport is with a private, door-to-door transfer directly to your accommodation in the city. You can pre-book a transfer for a hassle-free experience. A professional driver will wait for you at the airport and take you to your destination.

Rent a bus at Tocumen Airport

Larger groups of passengers should consider renting a bus at the airport. However, it is recommended to book it online, so the bus rental companies have enough time to advise you on the meeting point and all other information.

Tocumen Airport Airlines

To what destinations can I fly from PTY airport?

PTY is one of the most, if not the most important airport in Central America. The airport serves as the main hub for flights to and from the Caribbean, South, North, and Central America.

Among the frequent routes in America are flights to New York, Cancun, Sao Paulo, and Santiago. Popular transatlantic routes are flights to Amsterdam, Madrid, Istanbul and Paris.

What airlines serve PTY?

Tocumen Airport is the headquarters of Copa Airlines, which is also the largest airline at the airport by far. United Airlines is the second-largest airline at PTY, with a large gap behind Copa Airlines.

Below is the list of the most important airlines offering departures and arrivals from PTY:

• Copa Airlines
• AeroMexico
• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Condor
• Avianca
• Spirit Airlines
• Delta Air
• Turkish Airlines
• KLM
• Iberia
• Air France

Tocumen Airport Facilities

In 2006, a major renovation of the Tocumen airport started. The main goal of the project was to modernize the facilities and the equipment at the airport. Changes included a new air conditioning system, a better flight information system, improved amenities for passengers with special needs, and many more improvements.

The airport offers several amenities to passengers who are on a layover or simply waiting for the flight.

Here is a list of services offered at Tocumen Airport:

• ATMs
• Bank office
• Currency exchange offices
• Emergency clinic
• Lost and found
• Restaurants & cafes
• Shops
• Lounges
• Car rental agencies
• Luggage storage
• Parking
• Pharmacy
• Mobile charging 

Tocumen Airport accommodation

If you’re looking for a place to stay near the airport, check out our map of accommodation below:

Tocumen Airport FAQs