David airport enlargement begins

For those of us in the Province of Chiriqui, the enlargement of our provincial airport is big news. This $27 million expansion will allow direct international flights and through flights from Tocumen in Panama city. This will not only open up our province to more tourism, it will help drive down the costs of travel between Panama City and David.

Airport Groundbreaking

Terminal aérea de David. Air Terminal David. LA PRENSA/David Mesa 1388383 LA PRENSA / David Mesa 1388383

teófilo gonzález Teofilo Gonzalez
david, chiriquí David, Chiriqui
[email protected] [email protected]

  The first stone of the extension of Enrique Malek International Airport in the city of David will begin Wednesday morning by the President, Ricardo Martinelli.

  The project awarded through competitive bidding to the company Riva Argentina SA was rated at 27 million 478 000 $ 845 and it includes the extension of the runway, two thousand one hundred meters up to two thousand six hundred meters and the construction of new buildings in this terminal.

  Sources of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) indicated that the extension of Enrique Malek and other air terminals inside the country will increase the quality and capacity of air transport services, both freight and passengers.

Although during World War II ships were operating with greater weight and size, eventually Enrique Malek Airport will receive 737, whose capacity is 300 passengers.  For commercial flights that take place between David, Panama, Bocas del Toro and San Jose, Costa Rica using smaller aircraft capable of carrying up to 60 passengers.

  Enrique Malek operations continue without interruption for 18 or 20 months to delay the enlargement of the main runway, for which it has an auxiliary runway.

  Last year he performed at the Enrique Malek airport a monthly average of 500 operations (takeoffs and landings), mostly between the cities of Panama, David and Isla Colon (Bocas del Toro).

The Enrique Malek Airport expansion is one of the 10 priorities demanded by the business sector in the province of Chiriqui, which has considered the possibility that this air terminal is used for agricultural exports.