The administration of Panama Pacific Airport has stated that it has sufficient space on its western runway to accommodate the operations of another aviation facility. According to administrator Javier Suárez Pinzón, the possible relocation of Marcos A. Gelabert Airport, located in Albrook, to the Panama Pacific special economic zone to make way for the construction of the Panama-David-Frontera railway will not diminish the terminal's competitiveness; on the contrary, it could enhance its development plans and increase its profit margin. He clarified that although no decision has yet been made, Panama Pacific Airport has enough space on its western runway to host another aviation facility; however, such a determination will be up to the Panama Pacific Agency (APP), as it is the entity in charge of the terminal's administration and future. He pointed out that the airport's current profit margin is between 10% and 20%, meaning it is not operating at full capacity; therefore, a strategy is being developed to promote its advantages to companies and citizens. The terminal handles between 5,800 and 6,000 cargo movements monthly to the Colón Free Zone and border areas in a short period without dealing with the saturation of the Capital City's roads, and it transports about 400,000 passengers, but it can accommodate up to 2 million people per month. "We are talking about 2 million passengers who would get to know our country because those who land here stay in Panama," he affirmed. The head of the APP stated in an interview with Panamá América that the growth of this airport will also contribute to the recovery of the tourism sector, mainly in the province of West Panama, due to its proximity and variety of offerings. He mentioned that the national plan to boost the airport's growth includes the development of 380 hectares of land that have not yet been utilized and the attraction of new transactional companies to the area that could benefit from its future connectivity with Metro Line 3 and Tocumen International Airport. Additionally, they have a letter of intent from an operator to build 50,000 square meters of hangars on the airport's eastern strip in the next two years, generating around 1,500 jobs. Data provided by the entity reveals that 50% of the companies established in the area belong to the logistics sector, while 30% are dedicated to the maritime and aviation world; therefore, it is essential to add value to the industry. However, aviation groups and concessionaires of Albrook Airport have expressed their rejection of this possibility, considering that it will compromise national air connectivity, causing logistical, economic, and social impacts.
