9 month delay kills airport contract

PASSENGERS at Tocumen International Airport are going to have to wait longer before they see moving walkways at the North Terminal.

The state run company is looking for new suppliers after nine month’s stagnation by South Korea’s Hyundai’s local representative Elevadores del Istmo.

According to Juan Carlos Pino, general Tocumen Elevadores del Istmo, "is not able to install the conveyor belts."

"We are now at the point where we are going to terminate the contract, we will cancel it, because about nine months have passed with a commitment to their installation and we see no light at the end of the tunnel," the official said adding that they have already talked to other companies such as Mitsubishi, with whom they may be able to solve the problem in the next three months.

Meanwhile Antonio Sucre, manager of Elevadores del Istmo, said the company is able to install the equipment and has therefore requested two months to complete the work. Sucre said the delay was due to a technical problem with the structure at the worksite which prevents the placement the moving sidewalks.