Panama opens  humanitarian window at Tocumen International

The Panama  Government has authorized a controlled operations center for the interconnection of international commercial flights.

It will allow – to a limited extent – air operations for transit through the Tocumen international airport for the departure of passengers and the controlled entry of Panamanians or residents of Panama.

The establishment of the center was announced in an Executive Decree on  July 31, is signed by President  Laurentino Cortizo, and the Minister of Government, Janaina Tewaney Mencomo.

Only passengers established by April 30 Decree will be allowed to leave the country  and passengers will be admitted to the Tocumen airport to only  a limited extent, in terms of number and connections, “provided that their  connections do exceed  six hours between arrival and departure.”

The controlled entry of passengers into national territory will be allowed,  only with prior authorization from the health authority.

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) will authorize or deny the entry into the country of each flight, taking into account the level of spread of the Covid-19 in the country, the epidemiological status of the country of embarkation, the number of passengers and their health condition, says a  Ministry statement.

flights that are part of the controlled operation of the center must be presented and communicated by the air operators to the Civil Aeronautical Authority.

“Every Panamanian and resident foreigner who enters the national territory through these flights must submit to the sanitary and biosafety protocols established by the Minsa”, says the decree.