One hundred and seventy-four point four nautical miles from one end of the country to the other, departing Albrook. It is among Panama's longest domestic routes, and the fastest way to reach Chiriquí from the capital. Quoted per aircraft on request.
Route facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Marcos A. Gelabert (PAC), Albrook |
| Destination | Enrique Malek (DAV / MPDA), David, Chiriquí |
| Distance | 174.4 NM · 323 km |
| From San José, Costa Rica | 142.4 NM · international |
| Price | Quoted per aircraft on request |
What it replaces
The Interamericana. It is a main highway, in good condition and perfectly drivable, and plenty of people make this journey by road without trouble.
Its drawback is not difficulty but duration: three hundred and twenty-three kilometres of highway take up a good part of the day, and if your final destination is in the highlands you have to add the climb.
Flying earns its place when the trip is short, when the group splits the cost, or when the day lost on the road is worth more than the difference.
It does not for a single transfer with time to spare. The Interamericana works, and we say so.
The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
A figure that redraws the map
David is 174.4 nautical miles from its own capital and 142.4 from San José, in Costa Rica.
It is the second Panamanian destination in the catalogue closer to a foreign capital than to Panama City, after Bocas del Toro. Panama is a long country, and from the capital the west is far away.
The practical consequence is not that you should fly from Costa Rica — if you are already in Panama, this is your route — but that if you have not yet decided which country to enter through and your trip is to Chiriquí, the question deserves asking first.
Two airports that restrict nothing
It is rare in this catalogue for neither end to limit the aircraft, and here that is the case.
Enrique Malek is owned by Tocumen S.A. and is a focus city for Air Panama and Copa Airlines, with a runway extended since 2010. Albrook is the capital's general-aviation field.
For your booking: the aircraft is decided by your group and your baggage, not by the terrain. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
David is the gateway, not the destination
Boquete, Volcán and the coffee highlands are a climbing ground transfer away from David. We do not operate it and it is not in the fare. Ground transfer is not included in the fare: your accommodation or a local operator arranges it.
Confirm it before fixing the flight time, especially if you arrive late in the afternoon: it is a mountain climb and not one to rush.
The continuations
From David it is 58.0 nautical miles to Bocas del Toro, crossing the cordillera, and 90.4 to Santa Catalina.
That is what makes this route more than a transfer: David works as a pivot towards the Caribbean and towards the western Pacific without returning to the capital.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Panama City to David?
The flight covers 174.4 nautical miles from Albrook, or 185.6 from Tocumen. By the Interamericana it is three hundred and twenty-three kilometres.
Is it worth it against the road?
The Interamericana works well and plenty of people use it. Flying earns its place on a short trip, in a group, or when the destination is in the highlands.
Is it closer from San José?
Yes: 142.4 nautical miles against 174.4. It is the second Panamanian destination in the catalogue closer to a foreign capital than to its own.
Does either runway limit group size?
No. Enrique Malek is a focus city for Air Panama and Copa with a runway extended since 2010, and Albrook is the capital's general-aviation field. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
Do I land at Boquete?
No. Boquete and the highlands are a climbing ground transfer away that we do not operate. Ground transfer is not included in the fare: your accommodation or a local operator arranges it.
Can I continue from David?
Yes: 58.0 nautical miles to Bocas del Toro crossing the cordillera, and 90.4 to Santa Catalina. David works as a pivot without returning to the capital.