PACMPMGMinor

Panama City International Airport

Panama City, Panama · North America

PAC wins on location—10–20 minutes from the city and steps from Albrook Mall and the national bus terminal—but airside life is bare-bones, so eat before security and never let a driver take you to Tocumen instead.

Airportist Score

5.8/ 10

Passengers

Under 1M (domestic/regional)

Security

12 min

Nearby airports

Other airports within about 150 km.

All airports

PACMPMGMinor25°C

Panama City International Airport

Panama City, Panama · North America

Airportist Score

5.8/ 10

Passengers

Under 1M (domestic/regional)

Security

12 min

12 photos

Air Panama Fokker 100 parked beside the low terminal building at Marcos A. Gelabert (PAC) airport.

View along the runway and airfield at Aeropuerto Marcos A. Gelabert under open sky.

White Air Panama Fokker 70 on the apron at Albrook’s Marcos A. Gelabert airport.

Bright multi-level interior hall of the Albrook Bus Terminal with travelers and waiting areas.

Exterior facade of Panama City’s Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte at Albrook.

Signed Panama Metro Estación Albrook entrance inside the national bus station.

Island platforms and tracks at Estación Albrook on the Panama Metro.

Covered Panama Metro platform at Albrook with overhead signs and waiting space.

Red-and-white Metrobus pulling up at the National Transport Terminal of Panama.

Wide exterior view of the National Bus Station complex at Albrook, Panama City.

Rows of intercity coaches parked in bays at the Gran Terminal del Transporte.

Bus station lobby with glass walls looking out onto parked coaches.

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 75–90 minutes before domestic departure

PAC is small, but Air Panama check-in and bag drop still queue hard at morning bank times.

Peak pinch is roughly 05:30–08:00 and late afternoon; evening flights are usually calmer. Do not treat it like a 30-minute walk-up airport if you have checked bags.

Terminal

One terminal — do not confuse PAC with PTY

Rideshare and taxi drivers default to Tocumen; always say “Albrook / Marcos Gelabert (PAC).”

Wrong airport is a 45–90 minute mistake across the city. Confirm PAC on your ticket and pin Albrook before you request the car.

Food

Eat at Albrook Mall, not airside

Airside food is thin; the attached mall has far better options 5–10 minutes from check-in.

Clear security only when you are ready to stay airside — turnaround for a real meal is awkward once you are through.

Live checks

Recheck Air Panama schedule the night before

Domestic timings and equipment swap more often than big-hub carriers; same-day surprises are common.

Confirm flight status in the airline app/WhatsApp channel and build buffer if you have a same-day bus or Bocas boat connection.

PACGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for PAC.

Updated Jul 25, 2026

IATA PAC / ICAO MPMG — also called Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert
Panama City’s close-in domestic/regional airport; not Tocumen (PTY)
Primary airline: Air Panama; short-haul domestic and limited regional routes
Single compact terminal next to Albrook Mall and the national bus terminal
City-center access in ~10–20 minutes vs 45–90+ to PTY
Minimal airside amenities — plan food and lounge needs before security

3 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort4.0

Navigation8.5

Food4.0

Transport8.5

Disruption resilience5.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

Under 1M (domestic/regional)

Terminals

1 compact terminal

On-time departures

74%

Avg security

12 min

Best For

Domestic and short regional hops on Air PanamaBus-to-plane itineraries via Gran TerminalTravelers who want city-center access without the PTY slog

Watch Out For

Rideshare/taxi drivers defaulting to Tocumen (PTY)Almost no real meal options once you clear securityMorning check-in and bag-drop queues on Air PanamaSame-day schedule and equipment swaps on domestic flights

Nearby airports

Other airports within about 150 km.

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 75–90 minutes before domestic departure

PAC is small, but Air Panama check-in and bag drop still queue hard at morning bank times.

Peak pinch is roughly 05:30–08:00 and late afternoon; evening flights are usually calmer. Do not treat it like a 30-minute walk-up airport if you have checked bags.

Terminal

One terminal — do not confuse PAC with PTY

Rideshare and taxi drivers default to Tocumen; always say “Albrook / Marcos Gelabert (PAC).”

Wrong airport is a 45–90 minute mistake across the city. Confirm PAC on your ticket and pin Albrook before you request the car.

Food

Eat at Albrook Mall, not airside

Airside food is thin; the attached mall has far better options 5–10 minutes from check-in.

Clear security only when you are ready to stay airside — turnaround for a real meal is awkward once you are through.

Live checks

Recheck Air Panama schedule the night before

Domestic timings and equipment swap more often than big-hub carriers; same-day surprises are common.

Confirm flight status in the airline app/WhatsApp channel and build buffer if you have a same-day bus or Bocas boat connection.

PACGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for PAC.

Updated Jul 25, 2026

IATA PAC / ICAO MPMG — also called Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert
Panama City’s close-in domestic/regional airport; not Tocumen (PTY)
Primary airline: Air Panama; short-haul domestic and limited regional routes
Single compact terminal next to Albrook Mall and the national bus terminal
City-center access in ~10–20 minutes vs 45–90+ to PTY
Minimal airside amenities — plan food and lounge needs before security

3 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort4.0

Navigation8.5

Food4.0

Transport8.5

Disruption resilience5.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

Under 1M (domestic/regional)

Terminals

1 compact terminal

On-time departures

74%

Avg security

12 min

Best For

Domestic and short regional hops on Air PanamaBus-to-plane itineraries via Gran TerminalTravelers who want city-center access without the PTY slog

Watch Out For