Panama City Tocumen Intl Airport (PTY) Flights & Flight Status

Tocumen International Airport is the bustling home base for Copa Airlines, which calls the airport its “Hub of the Americas”. Tocuman fields flights to and from South, Central and North America, as well as Europe. It’s served by multiple international airlines as well.

The airport has two interconnected buildings: Terminal 1, which is the original terminal, and Terminal 2, the newer and more spacious facility. I’ve found Tocumen to be a pleasant airport for the most part (especially in Terminal 2), even if walking times may sometimes be long.

Arriving at Tocumen International Airport

If you’re connecting to another flight, simply proceed to your next gate after deplaning. If Panama is your final destination, follow the signs to the immigration and customs areas, which are located downstairs in both terminals. I generally haven’t had to wait long for processing.

Currency exchange

Panama’s official currency is the U.S. Dollar, although it’s sometimes referred to as the Balboa and prices may be shown with “B/” rather than “$” in front of the numbers. If you need dollars, the RedPlus exchange counter has three locations: one in the Terminal 2 duty free zone, one in the Terminal 1 North Pier and one near baggage claim.

Getting from Tocumen to Panama City

The airport is about 13 miles from Panama City. Taxis are the most common means of transit to the city from the airport, but there are other options worth considering, too.

Taxis

Take a deep breath before you exit the customs and baggage claim areas. You’ll likely find a horde of people offering taxi services — but don’t feel pressured to accept a ride. I’ve long had a problem in Panama City that taxi drivers would quote higher fares for me than they would for my Panamanian friends. So be wary.

To avoid the stress of haggling, I prefer to stop at an authorized taxi stand, where they quote rates based on destination. I always confirm that the driver will take the express highway to the city; a couple times I’ve had drivers who, in an effort to save money on tolls, took a much slower local route (although if there’s a traffic issue or accident on the main highway, that route may be justified).

Hotel shuttles

I also often take a hotel shuttle service (it’s best to reserve these in advance). This is a great way to avoid headaches with taxis. Always confirm the rate with the hotel before booking, of course, to make sure it’s within your budget.

Taking Uber at Tocumen airport

Uber is a good option, but since it isn’t officially allowed in the arrivals area, you’ll need to walk across the street to the parking area; the app will tell you the exact location. It’s not a far walk, so it’s not as inconvenient as in some Uber-restricted airports — and taking an Uber to the airport is even easier, since drivers can drop you off at the departure level.

Metro service at Tocumen

The recent extension of Panama City’s super-modern Metro mass transit system to Tocumen International Airport is great news for people who work at the airport. It’s also a viable option for budget-conscious travelers, too, since it’s much cheaper than any other form of transportation. But it does take longer (a bit over an hour, compared to 15 to 40 minutes by taxi, Uber or car) and you need to change trains to get from the airport to Panama City’s most popular neighborhoods and hotels. I don’t recommend it unless you’re traveling super light and feel adventurous.

Connecting at Tocumen

Tocumen International Airport is a massive connecting hub, especially for Copa Airlines. If you’re making a connection, familiarize yourself with the location of your arrival and departure gates, since you may need to do a bit of walking and budgeting time is crucial.

A helpful tip: gate numbers that begin with the number one are located in Terminal 1, and gates that begin with the number two are located in Terminal 2.

The good news is that you never have to go through customs or immigration when making a connection at Tocumen, and your bags are checked through to the final destination.

The only time you’d have to leave the airport for a connection is if your next flight is from one of the two smaller airports that also serve Panama City: Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (also called Albrook airport), which is a hub for mostly domestic flights, and Panama Pacifico, an even smaller facility that’s used by discount carrier Wingo.

If you’re traveling onward from either of these airports, you’ll need to proceed through customs and immigrations at Tocumen, exit the airport and find ground transportation; allow at least 45 minutes to an hour to reach Albrook Airport and an hour and a half to reach Panama Pacifico, since traffic can be heavy in the city.

The Panama Stopover program

Copa Airlines offers a Panama Stopover program that allows passengers connecting at Tocumen to stay for up to seven days in Panama without paying additional airfare or fees. It’s a good option if you’d like to experience Panama while headed somewhere else.

Navigating Tocumen International Airport

If you’re departing from Panama City, you’ll prevent potential frustration if you determine in advance which terminal has your airline’s check-in area. Copa Airlines, for example, flies out of both terminals, but the airline’s landside check-in facilities are located only in Terminal 2 (if you’re flying Copa and your flight is departing from Terminal 1, arrive early so you won’t be rushed as you move from one terminal to the other).

Wait time at security varies according to the time of day. One way to avoid long lines, if you have the right elite status, is by using Gold Track, a priority security clearance lane at Terminal 2; it’s available for travelers with Star Alliance Gold and Copa ConnectMiles Gold, Platinum and Presidential PreferMember status.

Important to note if you’re flying to the United States: In addition to the standard security screening before entering the airside section of the terminals, U.S.-bound travelers must pass through a secondary security screening at the gate — so get to the gate well in advance of your flight.

Food, drinks and shopping at Tocumen

While there are lots of options for food, beverages and shopping at Tocumen International Airport, there isn’t that much in the way of unique or authentically Panamanian offerings. Due to the distance between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, you’ll probably want to stick to businesses within the terminal of your departure.

For Panamanian coffee and baked goods, Toño’s Café Bakery, on the landside area of Terminal 1’s second level, is a decent choice. I’ve also found myself hurriedly buying fast food on the upper level of the airside connector corridor in Terminal 1, where Quizno’s, Carl’s Jr., the Pizza Stop and Barú Bar & Grill provide predictable but reliable sustenance. In Terminal 2, Merkato Bar is a decent option for standard casual fare, and its seating has electrical outlets.

Large duty-free shops dot the landscape in both terminals at Tocumen. But if you need inexpensive travel accessories (earphones, neck pillows, etc.) visit Miniso in Terminal 1. The Panama Store, also in Terminal 1, is a decent place to pick up Panamanian souvenirs, including clothing and items that incorporate mola embroidery by the indigenous Guna people.

Airport lounges at Tocumen

By far, the best lounge at Tocumen is the Copa Club in Terminal 2. The 21,500-square-foot facility, located on the second floor in the center of the terminal, is most likely the largest in Central America. You can get in for free if have certain levels of Copa Airlines or Star Alliance elite level status, and you can also buy a day pass if you’re flying Copa Airlines.

The Copa Club in Terminal 2 is furnished with multiple seating areas, a lounge with large-screen television, a work area with desks and a bar and dining area with buffet-style food included and additional items for purchase. You can even use the shower facilities for free, if you’re booked on a flight of more than 4.5 hours or have Prefer Platinum or Prefer Presidential status.

In Terminal 1, there’s a smaller (but still quite comfortable) Copa Club as well as Lounge Panama, an independent facility that offers free access for some types of Priority Pass, Lounge Key, Diner’s Club and Lounge Pass members. Day passes are also available and are cheaper than the Copa Club; while not as expansive as Copa’s Terminal 2 facility, Lounge Panama does have shower facilities and is accessible regardless of what airline you fly.

There is also one lounge on the landside of Terminal 1: the Tocumen Royal Saloon, which offers free access for some members of Priority Pass, Lounge Key and Diner’s Club. Its VIP “meet and assist” services can include the services of a representative upon deplaning, as well as access to the lounge and ground transfers.