What Happened
A proposal to charge a $10 fee to international transit passengers at Tocumen International Airport and other Panamanian air terminals was left in limbo after the National Assembly’s Economy and Finance Commission did not meet on Wednesday, 25 March, due to lack of quorum.
The session of the commission, presided over by Deputy Eduardo Gaitán (Vamos), included attendance by Gaitán; Luis Duke (Vamos); Isaac Mosquera (Molirena); Luis Charris (substitute for Ariel Vallarino of RM); and Joana Cedeño (substitute for Raúl Pineda of the PRD). The commission read correspondence but Mosquera withdrew, leaving the panel without the quorum required and forcing the meeting to be suspended.
Details of the Proposal
The measure in question is draft Bill 131, presented by Benicio Robinson (hijo), substitute deputy for his father Benicio Robinson (PRD). The draft seeks to create a “Tasa de Uso de Instalaciones Aeroportuarias en Tránsito” — a fee that would apply to passengers transiting through Panama without formally entering the country.
Robinson (hijo) defended the concept in the Assembly earlier this week, saying it is “not an increase, it is a fee so that funds can be given to the Oncology [Hospital], the Hospital del Niño, Santo Tomás (…) so that our people can have a better quality of life” and that the matter “will be in the discussion” to direct the fee “to our people.”
Reactions and Implications
Industry groups have expressed strong opposition. Aeronautical and business guilds warned that imposing a charge on transit passengers could harm Panama’s air connectivity compared with other regional hubs. The Panamanian Association of Hotels (Apatel) issued a statement of “deep concern,” arguing the fee would set a negative precedent by using a strategic sector as a source of revenue for purposes unrelated to its sustainability.
The debate touches on a broader tension between raising public revenues and preserving Panama’s competitiveness as a regional hub. Tocumen International Airport is a major connector for international travel; a commission caption notes the airport moves more than 55,000 passengers daily. Opponents argue even modest added costs could influence airline route planning and passenger choice, with consequences for tourism and trade.
Other Pending Items
The Economy and Finance Commission also left on its agenda first debates for several other bills, including Bill 492 (an addition to the Fiscal Code concerning the budget of revenues and expenses), Bill 502 (a framework law for the general state budget), Bill 503 (a law on integrity and prevention of corruption in public finances), and Bill 504 (a measure to strengthen public procurement through a digital registry of persons convicted of public administration crimes).
With the commission unable to convene, the timetable for discussing Bill 131 and the other measures remains uncertain.