Air Panamá Internacional

Air Panamá Internacional, also known simply as Air Panama, was a Panamanian passenger airline and the country's flag carrier during the period from 1968 to 1989. It was established in 1967 as a joint venture between the Government of Panama and Spain's Iberia, with the Panamanian government holding a 67% interest and Iberia holding the remaining 33%. When Iberia withdrew roughly a decade later, the airline became fully state-owned. The carrier was based at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, which served as its principal hub. During the 1970s and the early 1980s, it operated scheduled services linking Panama with destinations in North, Central and South America. Its published network included Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Guayaquil, Guatemala City, Mexico City, Lima, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Caracas and Panama City. The network positioned the airline as Panama's principal state-backed international air transport operator and connected the country with major commercial centers across the Americas. The airline's condition deteriorated during the 1980s. Panama's worsening political and economic environment, including the period of military rule under Manuel Noriega, contributed to a decline in the company's finances, route network and aircraft fleet. As Air Panamá Internacional weakened, Copa Airlines expanded and emerged as the country's largest airline. This transition marked the beginning of the end of Air Panamá Internacional's role as Panama's national carrier. Flight operations were reported to have stopped in December 1989 amid the United States invasion of Panama. At that time, the airline reportedly had only one aircraft, a leased Boeing 727. The available account also states that the airline declared bankruptcy in January 1990 and records a final cessation of operations on December 2, 1990. These dates reflect separate stages in the airline's shutdown and are not fully consistent in the available reference material; the brand is nevertheless clearly defunct. The Panamanian government later attempted to revive the business. On July 11, 1991, it announced a plan to relaunch the carrier as Panama Air International in the summer of 1992, using two Boeing 757 aircraft wet-leased from Avensa. The proposed revival did not materialize. In 2005, Turismo Aéreo acquired the Air Panama branding and trademark rights, but this later use of the branding does not restore Air Panamá Internacional as the historical state-owned flag carrier described in the canonical article.

Air Panamá Internacional was created in 1967 as a joint venture between the Government of Panama and Iberia. The Panamanian government held 67 percent of the venture and Iberia held 33 percent. The airline commenced operations in 1968 and became Panama's flag carrier, operating from Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the carrier provided scheduled passenger services across the Americas. Its destinations included Panama City, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Guayaquil, Guatemala City, Mexico City, Lima, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and Caracas. The network made Air Panamá Internacional an important state-backed link between Panama and major cities in the Western Hemisphere. Iberia withdrew from the venture approximately ten years after its formation, after which the airline became wholly state-owned. During the 1980s, however, the airline experienced a decline in both its route network and fleet. The deterioration was associated with Panama's worsening financial and economic circumstances during the period of military rule under Manuel Noriega. Copa Airlines grew during the same period and eventually became Panama's largest airline. Air Panamá Internacional's operations were disrupted in December 1989 during the United States invasion of Panama. The airline reportedly had only one aircraft remaining, a leased Boeing 727. The available historical account states that the airline declared bankruptcy in January 1990 and also identifies December 2, 1990 as its final cessation date. Because the source presents these dates as separate events, the precise legal and operational sequence requires further verification. In 1991, the government attempted to relaunch the carrier as Panama Air International, targeting a summer 1992 start and planning to use two Boeing 757s wet-leased from Avensa. The proposed revival failed. In 2005, Turismo Aéreo acquired the Air Panama branding and trademark rights. That later branding transaction is distinct from the defunct historical airline and does not establish a continuation of its former scheduled operations.

• 2005

  Air Panama branding changes hands

  [1]Air Panamá Internacionalen.wikipedia.org

  Turismo Aéreo acquired the Air Panama branding and trademark rights.

• 1991

  Failed proposed relaunch

  [1]Air Panamá Internacionalen.wikipedia.org

  The government proposed restarting the business as Panama Air International with two Avensa wet-leased Boeing 757s, but the plan did not succeed.

• 1990

  Bankruptcy and final shutdown

  [1]Air Panamá Internacionalen.wikipedia.org

  The airline reportedly declared bankruptcy in January; the reference account separately lists December 2, 1990 as the final cessation date.

• 1989

  Flight operations stop

  [1]Air Panamá Internacionalen.wikipedia.org

  Operations ceased in December amid the United States invasion of Panama, with the airline reportedly operating only a leased Boeing 727.

• 1968

  Scheduled operations begin

  [1]Air Panamá Internacionalen.wikipedia.org

  Air Panamá Internacional began operating as Panama's flag carrier from Tocumen International Airport.

• 1967

  Airline founded as a government-Iberia joint venture

  [1]Air Panamá Internacionalen.wikipedia.org

  The Government of Panama and Iberia established Air Panamá Internacional, with ownership divided 67 percent and 33 percent respectively.

• Iberia exits and the airline becomes fully state-owned

  [1]Air Panamá Internacionalen.wikipedia.org

  Roughly a decade after formation, Iberia withdrew from the venture and ownership passed entirely to the Panamanian state.

Former national flag carrier and state-owned international passenger airline of Panama.

• Passenger airline services · 1968

  Scheduled passenger services

  Air Panamá Internacional's core offering was scheduled passenger transportation from its Tocumen International Airport hub. During its principal operating period, the airline connected Panama City with major cities in the Americas, including destinations in South America, Central America, Mexico and the United States. The service supported the airline's role as Panama's national flag carrier.

• 1991

  Attempted relaunch as Panama Air InternationalStrategy

  Background

  Following the airline's collapse, the Panamanian government sought to restore a national carrier and announced a proposed summer 1992 relaunch.

  Action taken

  The proposed successor would operate under the Panama Air International name and use two Boeing 757 aircraft wet-leased from Avensa.

  Aftermath

  The proposed relaunch failed and did not return the historical airline to scheduled service.

  Source

1. 1Air Panamá Internacionalen.wikipedia.org