Tocumen International Airport has initiated a critical $56.9 million project to rehabilitate its two main runways, which have deteriorated to the point of requiring safety inspections every thirty minutes. The airport’s manager, Jose Antonio Ruiz Blanco, confirmed the four-year contract was signed on October 20 with the consortium PYCRAT to address advanced wear that includes cracks and asphalt detachment on surfaces originally built in 1978. This extensive work will be conducted exclusively during overnight hours to avoid disrupting the airport’s growing passenger traffic, which is projected to exceed 21 million travelers this year.
The urgency of the rehabilitation stems from the runways’ severe condition, particularly the primary 03R-21L Runway. This 3,050-meter strip, constructed with rigid concrete slabs, shows significant deterioration in its central rolling areas and touchdown zones. While a 750-meter section was repaired during the 2020 pandemic shutdown, the remainder has not received a comprehensive overhaul in nearly five decades. The secondary 03L-21R runway, though in better condition, also exhibits wear from frequent use by large aircraft on European routes.
“During 50 years the runways did not receive a deep rehabilitation. Pieces are detaching; it is a complicated project, which is why the new tender had to be more comprehensive,” said Jose Antonio Ruiz Blanco, manager of Tocumen S.A. [Translated from Spanish]
Airport officials revealed that the project was delayed by two years after an initial $38.9 million tender was canceled for failing to meet technical requirements. That first bidding process only requested a project manager and a superintendent, whereas the current contract with PYCRAT mandates a full team of specialists including operational safety experts, pavement engineers, and topographic surveyors. The consortium, formed by MOTA-ENGIL and Constructora MECO S.A., brings prior experience with projects at the airport.
Night Work to Maintain Airport Operations
The rehabilitation strategy centers on a tight nightly work window from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., a schedule designed to prevent interference with the airport’s busy daytime operations. Paulo Medeiros, legal representative for the PYCRAT consortium, identified this limited timeframe as the project’s primary technical challenge. He emphasized that the work would extend the operational life of both runways by twenty years, providing long-term reliability for the aviation hub.
This approach allows Tocumen International Airport to maintain its current flight schedule without reductions. The airport serves as a crucial connection point for the Americas and beyond, having moved 1.7 million passengers in September alone. During upcoming national holidays, officials anticipate an additional 192,000 travelers beyond regular traffic volumes.
“The main technical challenge will be the available time window to perform the rehabilitation. It will be night work, between 10 at night and 5 in the morning, to not interrupt airport operations,” explained Paulo Medeiros, legal representative of the PYCRAT consortium. [Translated from Spanish]
Jose Ruiz Blanco confirmed that the current inspection regimen of checking the runways every half-hour will continue throughout the project duration. This precautionary measure ensures that any loose material is immediately identified and removed before it can pose risks to aircraft. The manager acknowledged that the rehabilitation should have begun two years earlier but stated that the delay resulted from the need to create a more thorough technical specification.
Strategic Focus on Existing Infrastructure
Airport leadership views the runway project as a strategic alternative to building a third runway, which they now estimate will not be necessary before 2040. By investing in comprehensive rehabilitation and maintenance of the existing infrastructure, Tocumen can direct resources toward expanding terminal capacity instead. The airport currently operates 54 boarding gates split between its main terminal and the newer Terminal 2 building.
With passenger numbers rapidly recovering and projected to reach maximum capacity within two years, these infrastructure improvements become increasingly vital. The accumulated total for the first nine months of 2025 already reached 15.4 million passengers, putting the airport on track to surpass pre-pandemic traffic levels. This growth trajectory makes maintaining operational runways essential for both safety and economic reasons.
Manager Ruiz Blanco indicated that technical studies for adding new boarding gates to Terminal 2 should conclude by year’s end, with a tender expected in early 2026. The airport typically requires six to eight months for the bidding process, meaning construction on the gate expansion could begin by late next year. These new gates would be situated at the far end of the 116,000-square-meter Terminal 2 building.
The simultaneous pursuit of runway rehabilitation and terminal expansion demonstrates Tocumen’s dual focus on immediate safety concerns and long-term growth planning. As the airport approaches its operational ceiling, these parallel projects aim to ensure both the reliability of current operations and the capacity for future expansion. The success of the nighttime rehabilitation work will directly impact the airport’s ability to maintain its schedule integrity while addressing critical infrastructure needs.