Tocumen restarts Panama City tender

John Gallagher

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Airport authority Tocumen is expected to welcome bids for the Panama City International airport duty-free contract in March

Tocumen, the state-controlled airport authority that controls Panama City International airport, has announced the new timetable to bid for the long-awaited duty-free concession at one of the most vibrant airports in Central America.

CEO Carlos Garcia told local press that bids would be opened on March 22 and that, from today, the companies which purchased the original concession documents can pick up the addenda drawn up by the airport’s commercial team. Garcia added: “The concession will be awarded to the company that presents the most convenient offer for the interests of the airport.”

When the tender was announced 15 months ago, six companies purchased the tender documents – Ueta (controlled by the Falic family), Grupo Wisa, Motta Internacional, Boutique Airport, Airport International Management and Madrid-based Aldeasa.

The original tender made it difficult for local companies to participate but the conditions were changed following lobbying by local businessmen. The airport authority decided to postpone the tender in December 2005 and promised that new regulations would be forthcoming.

Local industry observers told DFNI that the biggest change in the tender is that the approximately 1,000sq m (1,076sq ft) of commercial space will now be divided into three blocks of just over 350sq m (3,766sq ft) each. The winner of the tender will be able to pick the best location out of the three blocks. The second and third-placed companies will also be able to operate if they increase their financial bid to match that of the winner.