Air Panamá Internacional (also known as simply just Air Panama) was a state owned airline from Panama that served as the flag carrier of the country between 1968 and 1989. From its hub at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, scheduled passenger flights to a number of destinations in the Americas was offered.
History Air Panamá Internacional was founded in 1967 as a joint venture between the government of Panama (67%) and Spanish airline Iberia (33%). When Iberia pulled out approximately ten years later, the airline became fully state-owned.
During the 1980s, when Panama was ruled by military dictator Manuel Noriega, the route network and aircraft fleet of Air Panamá went into decline because of the worsened financial and economic situation of the company, which led to Copa Airlines emerging as the largest airline of the country. All flight operations with Air Panamá Internacional ceased in December 1989 over the United States invasion of Panama. The only aircraft of the airline at that time, a leased Boeing 727. In January 1990, Air Panamá Internacional declared bankruptcy and ceased operations on December 2, 1990.
On July 11, 1991, there was an attempt by the government of Panama to relaunch the airline in summer of 1992 as Panama Air International with two Boeing 757s wet-leased from Avensa. However, this attempt failed.Panama Air International at the Aero Transport Data Bank In 2005, Turismo Aéreo acquired the Air Panama branding and adopted its trademark rights.
Destinations During the 1970s and early 1980s, Air Panamá Internacional offered scheduled flights to the following destinations:
Argentina Buenos Aires - Ministro Pistarini International Airport Colombia Bogotá - El Dorado International Airport Ecuador Guayaquil - José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport Guatemala Guatemala City - La Aurora International Airport Mexico Mexico City - Mexico City International Airport Panama Panama City - Tocumen International Airport Hub Peru Lima - Jorge Chávez International Airport United States Los Angeles - Los Angeles International Airport Miami - Miami International Airport New York City - John F. Kennedy International Airport Venezuela Caracas - Simón Bolívar International Airport
Fleet
Over the years, Air Panamá Internacional operated the following aircraft types:
+ Air Panamá Internacional fleetAircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotesBoeing 727-100619721990Boeing 727-200119861988Leased from Royal Jordanian Airlines119891990Leased from Faucett Perú, later disappeared while flying with FaucettMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-15119691972Leased from McDonnell DouglasMcDonnell Douglas DC-10-10119851985Leased from Arrow AirMcDonnell Douglas DC-10-40219841986Leased from Jet 24
See also List of defunct airlines of Panama
References
External links