Tocumen airport and Copa Airlines resume flights after Panama earthquake

Tocumen International Airport and Copa Airlines resumed flights on Friday. Operations had been suspended as a precaution after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in southeastern Panama. The airport authority said the quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres.

Runways and taxiways, general airport facilities and the control tower were inspected. According to the airport, the checks found no structural or technical damage that would stop commercial operations from restarting safely.

Copa said it restarted its flight programme immediately. It will give priority to returning to Panama aircraft diverted to alternate airports during the suspension, and warned of possible delays and schedule changes as it normalises its itineraries.

The airline also activated special passenger policies, including changes without penalty, for travellers affected by the disruption.