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PTY Tocumen International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Tocumen International Airport (PTY) serves Panama City, about 17 km northeast of Panama City. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATAPTY
ICAOMPTO
ServesPanama City
From centre17 km
Non-stop72
Airlines18
TimezoneAmerica/Panama
Elevation41 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Tocumen International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Tocumen International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 16M passengers in 2022, against a peak of 16M in 2018.

Passengers / year
16M
as of 2022
Elevation
41 מ׳
above sea level
Passengers per year, 1998–2022

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Airport to city

Getting from Tocumen International Airport to Panama City

The airport is about 17 km northeast of Panama City, about 36 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.

Taxi & apps: Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.

Tipping: Rounding up is accepted almost everywhere.

Transport guidance is generic for this country — check exact details on the airport's own site.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~25 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~36 minmetered
Private transfer~36 minfixed upfront
Car rental~36 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From PTY to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Colón65 km68 min—
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Tocumen International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Panama City ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Tocumen International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 72 destinations, operated by 18 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Copa Airlines · United Airlines · AeroMéxico · Iberia Airlines · Avianca · US Airways · Conviasa · American Airlines · Air France · KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Tocumen International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sailing from here?

Tocumen International Airport is the airport nearest Colón's cruise terminal. Cruises from Colón — which lines and where ›

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Tocumen International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Panama City shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Tocumen International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Panama City

Same country

Other airports in Panama

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Tocumen International Airport to the centre of Panama City?
Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. The airport is about 17 km northeast of Panama City, about 36 minutes by road.
Can I use a ride app from Tocumen International Airport?
Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.
What's the cheapest way from Tocumen International Airport to Panama City?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.
Can I get from Tocumen International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Tocumen International Airport?
About 72 destinations, including Miami, San Jose, Atlanta, Caracas. 18 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Tocumen International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Tocumen International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Tocumen International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Panama City city guide← Panama travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes

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