The German airline has announced it will be ready to start operating direct flights to Panama City starting January 2015.
Adding to the interest of other European airlines and responding to the increasing number of German tourists entering Panama, Lufthansa has notified the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP ) that it is able to start direct flights to Tocumen airport in January 2015 and is looking to finalize the respective agreement under process.
TAP, BlueSky and Aeromexico are negotiating flight connections from Portugal, Grand Cayman and Mexico City to Tocumen airport.
The Mexican carrier has already made the first approaches for connections to the Tocumen International Airport. Although it has not defined when flights would start, representatives indicated that it could begin with seven a week.
A Spanish airline and the Panamanian government are negotiating an increase from 5 to 7 in the number of weekly flights between the two countries.
Iberia and the Tourism Authority of Panama are in talks to increase in the next few months the number of weekly flights carried out between Bajaras in Madrid Airport and Tocumen airport terminal.
Prensa.com reports: "The Spanish airline, which merged with British Airways established direct flights to Panama in 2010, and with the passing of the years it has increased its frequency to the country due to increased passenger flow between both destinations. "
Connectivity to the European market will increase with three direct flights per week between Charles de Gaulle and Tocumen airports.
The fact that Air France is including the country in its plans, will cost the Panama Tourism Authority $4.5 million, an amount which it will pay for three years.
"The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), has already used this mechanism in the past.
Of the destinations operated by Spanish airline Iberia, the one reporting the highest growth (44%) is Madrid - Panama City.
According to information from the airline, between January and October a total of 75,000 passengers were transported on direct flights from Barajas airport in Madrid to Tocumen in Panama City .
Angel Valdemoros Llorens, Iberia’s international sales director said the company will open a fifth weekly or direct flight to Panama from January 2012 in order to meet the demand for this route that is seeing such strong growth. "We we are echoing the demand in Panama", the executive said, explaining that the company is committed to growing its operations in an orderly and meaningful way.
The Panamanian government and the airline have widened the scope of their agreement to add a fifth weekly flight with each party investing $370,000 in the route's market.
The signing of the new agreement between Iberia and the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) will increase the frequency of flights to five per week from Madrid Barajas airport to Panama's Tocumen International airport.
The Tourism Authority of Panama, due to high flights occupancy rates, will ask for more frequencies in this route.
Initially, they will request the use of a larger aircraft with greater capacity and an additional frequency to the current four per week.
"Iberia began flights between Madrid and Panama in October, after reaching an agreement with the ATP for 4 million dollars, which is partly used to promote the route.
With four weekly flights, the Spanish airline started last weekend flights to El Salvador.
The flights will be on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Prensalibre.com reports; "With these new flights, Iberia expects the Salvadoran capital to become a hub for the isthmus for those wishing to fly to or from cities such as Managua, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa."
With a 96% occupancy rate, the airline launched today, October 1st, its direct flight to Panama.
With the non-stop flight Madrid to Panama City, the company reduces flight duration by more than 4 hours and increased offer to Panama in about 55%.
These new direct flights from Iberia to Panama are a sign of their commitment to Central America, adding tomorrow, October 2nd, another destination: San Salvador, with four weekly flights.
The offers apply to the new San Salvador - Madrid route and the direct Panama to Madrid operation.
According to a report from Lainformacion.com, the El Salvador - Spain route will begin on 1 October with prices starting at $954. Meanwhile, prices for the Panama to Madrid flight start at $984.
Both routes will operate using the Airbus A-340/300 plane.
Starting October 1st, the Spanish airline will operate a flight between San Salvador – Madrid and will inaugurate non-stop flights between Spain and Panama.
The Salvadoran flight will make a small stop in Guatemala, while the return flight will be non-stop between El Salvador and Madrid.
In October, the company will inaugurate non-stop flights between Spain and Panama, which were previously routed through Guatemala.
The Tourism Minister informed they are having talks with two companies, and they could announce good news next year.
Currently, there are few flights between the country and the European Continent (Iberia operates a daily frequency, and Condor two per week). According to the tourism authority, this is limiting the growth of the industry.
Minister Alan Flores told newspaper Nacion.com: "A new connection will make it easier for wholesalers and tour-operators and there would be more options for passengers, resulting in an increased flow of European tourists to the country, with the added benefit that the Euro is now more convenient than the dollar".
Tourists and Panamanian residing abroad take advantage of Europe's summer vacations, July and August, to visit the country.
Spanish airline Iberia has already restarted its fifth weekly flight Madrid-Panama, a route that was suspended through April and May. The airline reports 78% occupation in July, and is forecasting 86% for August.
Gloria Clavel, Iberia Panamá manager, was quoted in Prensa.com as saying: "These are very good months, in terms of occupation, because relatives living there visit those living here and vice versa. Additionally, more tourist arrive because of the summer."