An Expanding Air Hub: Tocumen Airport Starts 2025 with Solid Growth

The Tocumen International Airport, Panama’s main air terminal, has begun 2025 with solid growth in passenger traffic, air operations, and cargo movement, solidifying its position as a strategic hub in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Record Passenger Traffic

According to data from Tocumen’s Vice Presidency of Planning and Strategy, in January 2025, the airport handled 1,757,658 passengers between Terminals 1 and 2, representing a 22% increase compared to January 2024. This equates to an additional 313,679 travelers.

Of this total, 1,234,763 passengers (70%) used Tocumen as a connection hub, reaffirming its importance as an air bridge linking 86 direct destinations in the Americas and Europe.

• Disembarked passengers: 263,069 (10% increase, +23,544 travelers)

• Embarked passengers: 259,826 (1% increase, +3,280 travelers)

• Average daily flow: 56,787 movements

→ 2024: A record year for Tocumen Airport

Increase in Air Operations

The number of operations also saw significant growth. During January 2025, Tocumen managed 13,780 aircraft maneuvers, representing a 16% increase compared to the same period the previous year (+1,916 operations). The daily average reached 445 flights.

Currently, 12 commercial airlines and 15 cargo airlines operate at Tocumen, consolidating its regional and international connectivity.

Main Destinations and Passenger Origins

The most transited destinations in January 2025 were:

• Bogotá, Colombia: 99,700 passengers

• San José, Costa Rica: 88,143 passengers

• Miami, United States: 85,745 passengers

• Medellín, Colombia: 80,349 passengers

• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: 64,327 passengers

Growth in Cargo Traffic

Regarding air cargo, Tocumen also experienced notable growth. During the first month of the year, 17,626 metric tons were mobilized, a 20% increase compared to January 2024 (+2,978 tons). This reaffirms the airport’s key role in regional trade.

An Expanding Air Hub

The General Manager of Tocumen International Airport, José Ruiz Blanco, highlighted that these results reflect the sustained recovery of the aviation industry and the efficiency of infrastructure investments. “We continue to strengthen our capacity to meet growing demand and maintain our position as the region’s leading hub,” he stated.

The sustained growth in passengers, operations, and cargo reaffirms Tocumen’s position as the main connection center in Latin America and the Caribbean, with increasingly robust infrastructure to meet the growing demands of the aviation sector.

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