Citizen Consultation Requested on Albrook Airport Transfer for the Panama-David Train
Albrook Airport relocation is under study and is conceptual, Mulino clarifies. The possibility of relocating Albrook Airport to make way for one of the Panama-David train stations remains on the table.
The National Aviation Coalition remains on alert regarding the proposal to relocate Albrook Airport to Panama Pacifico as part of the Panama-David railway project. Captain Jaime Fábrega, a member of the Coalition for National Aviation, stated that they welcome the construction of the train, however, “what we do object to is the dismantling of an already operating activity that generates foreign currency and generates well-being for the country, thanks to an activity that literally doesn’t exist.” During an interview on Radio Panama, Fábrega highlighted several of the strengths of the Marcos A. Gelabert Airport. For example, it’s “an airport that generates $3 to $4 million annually in hangar rentals and any payments made to the Civil Aeronautics Authority.”
What Does the National Aviation Coalition Propose?
Fábrega reported that the organization had sent two notes to President José Raúl Mulino requesting the establishment of a working group to seek alternatives, and that this initiative requires public consultation. Fábrega confirmed that no response has been received to these notes, adding, “The more time this administrative silence lasts, the more doubts and misgivings the aforementioned project raises.” Along the same lines, the National Aviation Coalition also approached the Ombudsman’s Office to request a binding citizen consultation, in which “those truly affected will be consulted,” he said. The Coalition is considering alternatives for locating the railway station, including using the current headquarters of the National Police and the area where Customs and the Ministry of Public Works were located.
