In countries where airlines work closely with airport authorities and governments, the sector's development has been remarkable, as is the case of Panama.
Air connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean is expensive: there are 130 different taxes on airfare, costs which are charged to companies, individual travelers, the aviation industry and tourism in general.
From August 28th to September 2nd, 500 airport executives will be gathering together in Panama City in the world assembly of the International Airports Council.
During the convention the main challenges of the sector will be assessed from the perspective of the constants regulations they face. Also to be discussed is the global trend towards privatization of the airport terminals.
In the South American country a rule has been published that establishes that costs and expenses incurred during transportation of goods by air must be borne by the importers.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
On October 11, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) of Peru issued a rule that the costs and expenses incurred during transportation of goods by air will be borne by the importers.
The infrastructure in most airports in Central America can not cover the increase in the number of air passengers transiting in the region.
In the region, traffic has increased by almost 80% over the last ten years going from 95 million to 170 million passengers. "Today, 30% of Latin American flights take off or land at congested airports, which constitutes one of the main difficulties in the development of the airline industry," noted an article in Eleconomista.net.
One of the projects which aroused the most interest from foreign investors in the recent Investment Summit has drawn criticism over its design and planning.
The small amount of urban development and the broken terrain in the area of Zone 25 where the Municipality of Guatemala plans to build an international airport have raised questions in the real estate sector.