(prensa.com) President Ricardo Martinelli has announced that the town of Rio Hato, in the province of Coclé, will be the site for the construction of an international airport to serve the interior.
The decision ends months of discussion about the possible location of the airport. Other towns considered were Aguadulce, Antón, Penonome, Santiago and Chitré.
The government will spend a significant amount of money to upgrade the Ruben Cantu Airport in Santiago as well.
The government is planning to invest a significant amount of money to upgrade facilities at the former Howard Air Force Base outside of Panama City and Enrique Malek Airport in David.
Martinelli also announced that another airport will be built in Santa Catalina, in the Sona district.
At the beginning of this year, Panama Tourism Authority Administrator Salomón Shamah said that the government would begin studying possible locations for a new international airport. The facility in Rio Hato will give greater access to the Pacific beach areas.