Tocumen International Airport
IATA: PTY · 25 km from Panama City centre · 30 km from Casco Viejo
Best for international arrivals and Copa connectionsTocumen is the busiest airport in Central America and serves as Copa Airlines' main hub, which means connections throughout the Americas are frequent and generally well-timed. The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 handles most international arrivals and Copa flights, while the newer Terminal 2 handles additional international carriers. Immigration queues can be long during cruise-ship season; arriving with all documents ready speeds things up considerably.
| Transport | Cost (approx) | Duration |
|---|
| Metro Bus (Mi Bus) | USD 0.25-1.25 | 60-90 min to city centre |
| Registered taxi | USD 25-35 | 25-45 min depending on traffic |
| Uber / ride-share | USD 15-25 | 25-40 min to Miraflores area |
Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport
IATA: PAC · 5 km from Panama City centre · 8 km from Casco Viejo
Best for domestic flights and island hoppingAlbrook is Panama City's domestic airport, handling small-aircraft flights to Bocas del Toro, San Blas, David, and other regional destinations. It is compact, easy to navigate, and located within the former Canal Zone, making it far closer to the city centre than Tocumen. Most flights depart early morning, so an overnight stay nearby is worth considering if you're connecting from an international arrival.
| Transport | Cost (approx) | Duration |
|---|
| Taxi | USD 5-10 | 10-15 min to Casco Viejo |
| Uber / ride-share | USD 4-8 | 10-15 min to city centre |