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PTY · Panama City, Panama · International Hub

Tocumen International Airport Guide

Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for Tocumen International Airport (PTY), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.

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On this page
  1. Map
  2. Terminals & connections
  3. Layover helper
  4. Security & TSA
  5. Lounges
  6. Amenities
  7. Ground transport
  8. Parking
  9. Can I leave?
  10. FAQ

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 2 terminals
  • Minimum connection time: 1 hr 30 min international to international, 30 min domestic
  • Arrive: Follow your airline's check-in deadline
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes · Sleep pods: Yes

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap

Terminals & connections

Tocumen International Airport has 2 terminals. Transfer system: Two terminals (T1 and T2) linked by a free shuttle bus (every day 5:00am-11:00pm; the ride takes a few minutes; pickups at T1 between gates 104 and 105 and at T2 in front of gate 209). Copa Airlines bases its hub here with check-in in T2. OAG floors are 30 domestic, 60 domestic-to-international, and 90 for both international sectors. Panama has almost no domestic network, so the airport is overwhelmingly an international-to-international connecting hub. Copa files a faster figure for its own same-airline connections, around 60 minutes, because its bank is timed for transfers. A change between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is the only real friction, and even that is a short shuttle ride.

Terminal 1

Linked to Terminal 2 by a free airport shuttle bus.

Terminal 2

Linked to Terminal 1 by the same free shuttle bus. Confirm your terminal with your airline.

Minimum connection times

Domestic to domestic
30 min
Domestic to international
1 hr
International to domestic
1 hr 30 min
International to international
1 hr 30 min
Transfer system
Two terminals (T1 and T2) linked by a free shuttle bus (every day 5:00am-11:00pm; the ride takes a few minutes; pickups at T1 between gates 104 and 105 and at T2 in front of gate 209). Copa Airlines bases its hub here with check-in in T2.
Airside connected
Not published
Check your connection time at PTY

Layover helper

Find how long to plan for a connection at PTY: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.

Minimum connection at PTY

90min

Comfortable

2 h 30+

The shortest connection airlines usually sell here. Includes customs. Source: OAG

Comfortable is our guidance, not a rule.

Flying Copa both ways?Copa is a hub carrier here, with its own same-airline minimums
Both flights on Copa?
ConnectionCopaAirportvs airport
Domestic → Domestic45'30'+15'
Domestic → International60'60'0
International → Domestic60'90'-30'
International → International60'90'-30'

Copa's same-airline minimums (OAG). Mixed-airline connections use the airport standard.

Based on:
Connection times are estimates. Verify with your airline.Powered by Travel VientTerms

Writing about PTY? Embed this connection time calculator on your site

Security & TSA

Security waits at PTY vary by time of day and checkpoint. We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by PTY, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.

TSA PreCheck
Not available
CLEAR
Not available
Global Entry
Not available

No US preclearance or US programs. Most passengers here connect international-to-international; some nationalities require a transit visa for Panama.

Lounges

2 notable lounges at PTY, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.

Copa Club

Terminal 2

Copa Airlines / Star Alliance

Access: Business, ConnectMiles elite, Star Gold

Amenities: Buffet, Bar, Wi-Fi

VIP Lounge (The Lounge)

Terminal 2

Contract / card-access

Access: Priority Pass, eligible cards, paid day pass

Amenities: Buffet, Bar, Wi-Fi

Amenities

7 of 7 core amenities available at PTY: showers, sleep pods, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 1 terminal.

Showers

Available

Premium lounges

Sleep pods

Available

Sleep boxes in Terminal 2

WiFi

Free (good)

Free wifi throughout

Nursing rooms

Available

Both terminals

Chapel

Available

Chapel / prayer room

Pet relief areas

Available

Pet relief areas

Dining highlights

Terminal 2: Nacion Sushi, Local Panamanian cafes

Ground transport to Panama City

No official source we checked publishes a ride time from PTY to downtown Panama City.

OptionCostTime
Metro Line 2 (Aeropuerto station)
Subway
The Aeropuerto station is on the Line 2 branch; change at Corredor Sur station to reach the ITSE and Aeropuerto stations. Regular fare USD 0.35 per trip (Panama uses the US dollar).
$0.35Varies
Taxi
Taxi
Official airport taxis charge a fixed fare by destination: USD 30 to Panama City for up to 2 passengers. Other destinations and extra passengers cost more.
$30Varies

Parking

PTY does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; on-airport parking is priced dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. Panama uses the US dollar; rates via tocumenaero.com.

Short-term
Varies
Long-term
Varies
Economy
Not published
Valet
Not published

Can I leave PTY during a layover?

With a 3-hour layover, stay inside PTY. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of Panama City.

Central Panama City is reached by metro (Line 2 from the Aeropuerto station) or by taxi; no official source publishes a ride time, so check before you leave. Most travelers here are international-to-international transit passengers who stay in the airport. Some nationalities need a transit visa to enter Panama.

Overnight layover hotels

  • Riu Plaza Panama (city) / on-airport hotels
    Near airport
    $$

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at PTY?

We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by Tocumen International Airport, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.

What is the minimum connection time at PTY?

PTY requires at least 90 minutes for international-to-international connections, 30 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. Transfer system: Two terminals (T1 and T2) linked by a free shuttle bus (every day 5:00am-11:00pm; the ride takes a few minutes; pickups at T1 between gates 104 and 105 and at T2 in front of gate 209). Copa Airlines bases its hub here with check-in in T2.

How long does it take to get between terminals at PTY?

We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for PTY, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.

Can I leave PTY during a 6-hour layover?

With 3 hours you should stay inside PTY. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Central Panama City is reached by metro (Line 2 from the Aeropuerto station) or by taxi; no official source publishes a ride time, so check before you leave. Most travelers here are international-to-international transit passengers who stay in the airport. Some nationalities need a transit visa to enter Panama.

Does PTY have showers?

Yes, PTY has showers at Premium lounges.

Does PTY have sleep pods?

Yes. Sleep boxes in Terminal 2 offers private sleep rooms.

Is WiFi free at PTY?

Yes. PTY offers free WiFi throughout the airport. Free wifi throughout

What is the cheapest way to get from PTY to Panama City?

The cheapest option is typically Metro Line 2 (Aeropuerto station) at $0.35, taking a variable amount of time. The Aeropuerto station is on the Line 2 branch; change at Corredor Sur station to reach the ITSE and Aeropuerto stations. Regular fare USD 0.35 per trip (Panama uses the US dollar).

Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at PTY?

PTY does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint. No US preclearance or US programs. Most passengers here connect international-to-international; some nationalities require a transit visa for Panama.

Where should I eat at PTY during a layover?

Notable dining at PTY includes Nacion Sushi (Terminal 2), Local Panamanian cafes (Terminal 2).

How much does parking cost at PTY?

PTY does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; rates are set dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. Panama uses the US dollar; rates via tocumenaero.com.

Is there a hotel at PTY for overnight layovers?

The closest option is Riu Plaza Panama (city) / on-airport hotels (Near airport, $$). Budget time for the shuttle or rideshare in your overnight plan. For shorter rest stops, PTY also offers Sleep boxes in Terminal 2.

Are there pet relief areas at PTY?

Yes. Pet relief areas.

Is there a chapel or prayer room at PTY?

Yes. Chapel / prayer room.

Compare PTY to other airports

See how PTY ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.

Best for layoversPTY is workable for 6h+ layoversWith sleep podsPTY has Sleep boxes in Terminal 2Shortest MCTPTY dom-to-dom: 30 min · intl-to-dom: 1 hr 30 min

More on Panama City and PTY

Go deeper on connecting through PTY and on visiting Panama City.

Airlines operating at PTY

Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of PTY.

Compare other airports

Sources & verification

Connection times, security and ground transport verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Parking, amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with Tocumen International Airport before flying.

If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.