Panama's Tocumen Airport Signs Air Cargo Cooperation Memorandum with SATS

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 5, Singapore-based air cargo services provider SATS signed a memorandum of cooperation with Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen, the operator of Panama's Tocumen International Airport. The two parties will study the development of the airport's cargo area, as well as air cargo handling facilities and operational plans within Tocumen Cargo City. The cooperation will proceed in accordance with Tocumen Airport's master plan, with SATS contributing its experience in air cargo terminal operations and global cargo network development.

The Tocumen Cargo City plan includes a logistics zone and an air cargo terminal. Tocumen Airport had previously launched a concession procedure for the project's developer, intending to bring in a master developer responsible for the construction and development of the Cargo City. In 2024, the airport issued a commercial concession procedure for the "Tocumen Cargo City Logistics Zone and Cargo Terminal," but subsequently postponed the related procurement arrangements due to adjustments to the tender documents. The current cooperation with SATS directly corresponds to the study of Cargo City facilities and operational systems.

In 2025, Tocumen Airport handled a total of 248,455 tons of air cargo, setting a new annual record, with 28 cargo airlines operating at the airport that year. The Panamanian government is also advancing adjustments to the customs facilities in the airport's cargo area, involving approximately 1 hectare of land, with plans to reconfigure inspection equipment and cargo examination space.

The current cooperation between the two parties is still at the development study stage, with subsequent work to focus on cargo facility configuration, air cargo handling capacity, and operational plans. SATS currently operates more than 225 stations across 27 countries, and its network will be used to study air cargo flow solutions connecting Asia and the Americas via Panama.