Panama airport logistics center

Bidding starts next year for the development of a free zone at Panama´s Tocumen International Airport.

Logistics services, warehousing, light manufacturing operations and avionics are some of the businesses, which could invest in the zone, which initially will consist of up to 60 hectares (150 acres) on airport property.

The tenth busiest airport in Latin America by passenger traffic, Tocumen has extensive connections to the rest of Americas, including the Caribbean, as well as Europe.

A free zone at Tocumen would create options for air cargo management in Panama, a regional leader in maritime logistics.

Panama earlier this year announced plans to expand operations at the Manzanillo Free Zone, next to the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal.

The adjacent Colón free zone of some 55 hectares (130 acres) is the largest warehousing and logistics center in the Americas.

The volume of maritime traffic – mainly between Asia the East Coast of the Americas on the other – is expected to grow, following the opening last June of the expanded Panama Canal.

With the expansion, the canal will be able to handle ships with up to 12,500 containers, compared to 4,500 previously.

Details of the Tocumen project have yet to be announced by airport authorities.