QUICK TAKES

David Airport's Expansion and Modernization 

By Juan Carlos Martinez

It has been previously mentioned that the in country Panama airports are getting updated and remodeled to deal with the increasing flow of passengers and tourists.  Tocumen Airport, Panama's international airport and COPA Airlines hub, is already in the second phase of its expansion and now the Airport in David, Chiriqui, Enrique Malek Airport is also getting remodeled and the tender for the remodel and expansion is already up on the government contracting on-line site www.panamacompra.gob.pa.  The reference price for this tender is $24 million.  The airport will boast a new design to handle the increased flow of passengers.

David is the capital of the province of Chiriqui and Panama's third most important city.  The province of Chiriqui is well known for its natural beauty, its diverse locations and climates.  Very well known is beautiful Boquete in Chiriqui.  It is a small town nestled in the mountains of Chiriqui approximately 30 to 40 minutes from David with a wonderful, fresh climate and vibrant, green scenery. A place to expect orchids and butterflies in abundance in this idilic locale.

You can get to David either driving, by bus or plane.  Driving or by bus is a six hour trip and by plane 45 minutes from Panama's Marcos Gelabert Airport better known as "Albrook Airport".  David is currently a bustling town 45 minutes from the Costa Rican border, Paso Canoas.  As of the last census in 2000 David had approximately 125 thousand inhabitants although recently there has been an influx of foreigners settling in David and in the surrounding areas.

The areas surrounding David are also experiencing rapid growth through tourism.  Some of the main tourist attractions around David are Boquete, Cerro Punta, Volcan, Amistad National Park, and in addition to this it is possible to drive to Bocas del Toro from Chiriqui, where you than take a water taxie.

All of these spots plus the many unspoiled regions of Chiriqui make it almost mandatory to improve access to the province with a newly remodeled and redesigned airport in order to full-fill the area's potential.

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