UPDATED POST
Keep in mind, you can make a reservation for a flight from the USA (or elsewhere) all the way to David Panama, but it will NOT be a non-stop flight.
All flights must stop in Panama City's Tocumen airport. Once you land at Tocumen, you will go through immigration and customs and then you go to the Copa counter and check your bags. Once you are checked in, you will walk to the domestic terminal at Tocumen to catch your connecting flight to David.
Thankfully, this is usually a pretty quick process.
You can typically make it with only an hour between landing at Tocumen and catching your connecting flight to David. However, I'd recommend giving yourself more than that minimal hour between the flights.
The advantage of purchasing your ticket all the way through to David is your baggage allowance.
If you book your flight from the USA (or where ever) through to David, Copa Airlines will allow you the same baggage allowance as your flight to Panama City permits. Typically international flights have a much higher baggage allowance than domestic flights.
This is good option if you have more than 1 checked bag of over 44lbs (20 kilos). Most airlines coming to Panama allow bags of up to 50 lbs and often allow up to 2 bags. Normally, Copa allows you only 1 checked bag of 44lbs (20 kilos) on its flight to David. That is, unless you booked your international flight through to David.
Find out more about flights from Panama City to David.
My comment on my original post: While there are still no direct flights from the USA to David, there are more flights to David that are not controlled by George Novey. As I explain above, for the last year or more Copa offers flights to David out of Tocumen.
This is a big improvement. You used to have to change airports in Panama City to catch a plane to David. Copa airlines, my favorite, offers flights from Panama City to David out of Tocumen airport. Air Panama continues to offer flights out of Panama
Here is that original post:
The internet is awash with hopeful information on this topic. So often it seems like it will happen. For awhile I bought into the hoopla.But I don't think it will ever happen.Or at least not anytime soon.
The short answer is Air Panama.
Air Panama is Panama's only regional airline, since Aeroplas airline closed in 2012
George Novey owns Air Panama. He is a very well connected, very wealthy, international businessman.
He is one of the main reasons there will never be direct flights to David from either the USA or Panama's Tocumen airport.
He is making oodles of money with Air Panama's flights out of the Albrook Airport.
He has no competition. There is not other airline who offers the flights that Air Panama offers.
Any direct flight from another airport into David will drastically reduce Air Panama's profits.
David is the 2nd largest city in Panama. There is alot of demand for flights in and out of David.
Maybe I am cynical. But unless Mr Novey can make money on direct flights to David, that do not originate from the Albrook Airport, I don't think there will be any.
Need to fly to David? Learn how you can fly from Panama City to David here.
Please comment below.
