On Thursday, Panamá Pacífico International Airport (BLB) resumed commercial operations, following the completion of the renovation works on its passenger terminal.
The facility had been closed in March 2020, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Tocumen S.A. moved forward with expansion and modernization works, with the aim of offering an additional option to travelers.
“The reopening of Panamá Pacífico airport marks a key milestone in the process of recovery of Tocumen’s operations as an operating company and for national tourism, because it opens a new door to Panamá as a destination for leisure and shopping,” said Raffoul Arab, General Manager of the airport.
The executive celebrated the completion of the work and said that the renovated building will optimize operational capacity and provide a higher quality service to airlines and their customers.
From now on, the airport will be able to receive up to two aircraft simultaneously. This will reduce waiting times and improve service for all users.
The project, which required an investment of 998.472 dollars, included the expansion of boarding lounges, arrivals and baggage claim areas, adaptation for commercial areas, improvements in check-in and migration posts, renovation of bathrooms, construction of rain gutters, waterproofing of roofs and renovation of air-conditioning systems, among other adaptations.
Importance for low-cost airlines
The restart of services coincided with the return of Ecuadorian airline Aeroregional. Initially, it will operate two weekly charter flights to and from Guayaquil (GYE) on Boeing 737-400 aircraft. Other low-cost airlines, the airport’s main operators, are expected to resume flights in the coming weeks.
Currently, it is the only airport in Latin America dedicated to low-cost airlines, after the Argentinian government closed El Palomar Airport (EPA) in Buenos Aires for commercial operations at the end of 2020.
This story was originally published by Agustin Miguens of Aviacionline in syndication with AirlineGeeks.
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