Panama City tender delayed again

John Gallagher

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A further two-week delay in the retail tender at Tocumen International airport has pushed the deadline for bids back to April 19

The long-awaited duty-free tender at Panama City’s Tocumen International airport has suffered a further delay. The tender was originally due to be finalised at the end of 2005, but several local operators made protests to the government, claiming that the published conditions made it difficult to compete against the bigger multinational companies. After successful lobbying, new conditions were published at the beginning of February this year with bids to be lodged by March 22.

However after operators met at the beginning of this month and further clarifications were published by the airport authority earlier this week, the revised final date for placing bids is April 19.

Ravenfox.com understands that local operators Motta Internacional and Wisa Group will be joined by DFA/UETA, Aldeasa and Dufry South America, in the bidding for the contract at Panama, which could select up to three different operators to manage three blocks of retail outlets.