Enrique Malek International Airport

Enrique Malek International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Enrique Malek) (IATA: DAV, ICAO: MPDA) is an international airport serving David Sur, a city in the Chiriquí Province of Panama.

Enrique Malek International Airport

Aeropuerto Internacional Enrique Malek
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerTocumen S.A.
ServesDavid Sur, Panama
Focus city forAir Panama, Copa Airlines
Elevation AMSL89 ft / 27 m
Coordinates8°23′30″N 82°26′04″W
Websiteenriquemalekinternational.com
Map
DAV
Location within Chiriqui
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 2,600 8,530 Asphalt
Source: GCM[1] SkyVector[2] Google Maps[3]

During heavy travel times, the airport registers 900 operations monthly, serving approximately 20,000 passengers from Mexico, the United States, Canada and Central America.

Facilities and expansion

The airport is on the south side of the city, 4 kilometres (2 mi) from downtown.

In early 2009, the Chiriqui regional director for the Authority of Civil Aeronautics (AAC), Inés de Esquivel, informed La Estrella: "...in the last five years, $1.5 million in investments have been made for the improvement of various areas at the Enrique Malek airport."[4]

An estimated US$12 million improvement fund was passed by the Panamanian legislature that included runway expansion to allow for heavy aircraft. Additionally, the DAV perimeter fencing, first responders, hospitals, security, baggage claim, and terminal facilities were all included in the expansion. The airport ramp and fueling facilities were expanded between 2008 and 2009. The extension of the runway from 2,100 to 2,600 metres (6,900 to 8,500 ft) began in 2010.[5]

The former terminal was demolished and a new one built. When construction had finished, daily flights from Air Panama began. Also car rentals commenced operations in the new terminal. The international flight terminal receives numerous daily flights from Copa Airlines and Air Panama.

In October 2009, a campaign for Direct flights between David and the US was relaunched and statistics were being kept of passengers interested in travel along this route.[6]

The David VOR-DME (Ident: DAV) and non-directional beacon (Ident: DAV) are located on the field.[7][8]

History

Known as David Field or San Jose Field during World War II, the airport was an auxiliary of Howard Field, which is near Panama City. It accommodated a variety of United States Army Air Forces personnel, dedicated for the most part in training and reconnaissance missions over the Southeast Pacific coastline, from Honduras in the north, to Peru in the south as part of the defense of the Panama Canal. Enrique Malek International Airport was first built in 1941 as part of an agreement between the U.S and Panama. Wartime units assigned to the airfield were:

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Air Panama Panama City–Albrook, San José de Costa Rica
Arrendamientos Aéreos Charter: Panama City-Albrook
Copa Airlines Panama City–Tocumen

Car rental agencies

See also

References
  1. Airport information for Enrique Malek International Airport at Great Circle Mapper.
  2. "Enrique Malik Airport". SkyVector. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  3. "Enrique Malek International Airport". Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  4. Panama: Expanding the Enrique Malek Airport - CentralAmericaData
  5. Google Earth Historical Imagery (1/2/2011)
  6. DAV Direct
  7. "David VOR". Our Airports. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  8. "David NDB". Our Airports. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  9.  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
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