Albrook Airport

Panamá City - Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" Airport
February 2024

In January 2024, my wife and I left cold and rainy Holland for Central America in search for better weather and some adventure. During this trip I also spend some time on aeroplane spotting at the various airports. The routing was Amsterdam - Bogota - Panama - Costa Rica - Nicaragua and back. Below a photo-report of what I've done.

Overview of Albrook, Marcos A. Gelabert Airport, from the top floor of Marriott Panama.

Several Fokkers are put into long-term storage, others are in a state of being parted-out.

The scenery around Albrook Airport is breathtaking.

The heli is an Hughes 369HS with registration N115EC.

HP-1554FT is a Cessna 172 of Learn to Fly.

HP-4 is a Beechcraft F90 King Air of Aerorental, Panama.

Aviatun De Panamá.

Two Cessna 404’s in derelict condition at Albrook in February 2024.

Light aviation ready to depart Albrook's runway 01.

Cessna 182 HP-1675 on finals for runway 01.

Air Panama Cessna 208A Caravan, HP-1812PS, is jumping the fence at Albrook.

HP-1812PS, on short finals to land at Albrook with a another load of vacationers.

Aerorental Beechcraft F90 King Air, HP-4, seen here heading purposefully towards the runway threshold.

HP-4 is a Beechcraft F90 King Air of Aerorental, Panama.

Nice overview of the Albrook Airport ramp.

This supposedly anonymous MIL-17, was parked at Albrook during my visit. The registration (HK-5334) identifies it as one of the former Vertical de Aviacion fleet. In August 2023, this company was liquidated. The current owner of the MIL is unknown to me.

Aircraft are being fueled.

Cessna 500 Citation N5LK and Beech 95 Baron N311DC.

Hangar 9-F.

N650BV is a Cessna 650 of Valair.

Beech C90 King Air N422AS, with the control tower in the background.

Two Fokker 50’s in what’s left of their glory. They are still earning their living as part donors to keep the other Fokkers in the air!

Both aircarft are listed stored.

Unfortunately out of service and resting. Beside the missing props the plane still looks good.

VH-FKV was built for Formosa Airlines 1995. Five years later the Fokker was transferred to Mandarin Airlines for which she worked the next eight years. In June 2008 she was exported to Australia and Alliance Airlines became the new owner, for which she worked the next 14 years. She ended her career with Air Panama as a parts donor and, as can be seen, she still wears her Alliance uniform.

HP-1794PST. This particular aircraft first flew from Fokker’s Amsterdam-Schiphol production site on September 6, 1989 and was delivered to SAS Eurolink nine days later as OY-KAF. Ten years later she was sold to Air Baltic in Latvia with registration YL-BAT. Air Panama acquired the Fokker in September 2013.

VH-FKV looking worn, but complete.

Sky Tropic Quest Kodiak 100 HP-25SKT was operating Tocumen – Albrook – Bocas del Toro that day.

FlyTrip Quest Kodiak 100, HP-124AAD, is seen here arriving from Bocas del Toro. Just 15 minutes later she left for Contadora Island.

HP-126AAD is a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan of Flytrip.

Piper PA-28 Cherokee, HP-1907BL.

Let's peek inside those hangars!

This frame is most probably HP-1606PST. Also a former SAS Eurolink ship.

The nose section of stored HP-1794PST.

Avenida Diógenes De la Rosa.

In the background AIRtec Inc. Basler BT-67 N844TH is just visible.

Airtec Inc. Basler-67 is performing Airborne Radar Surveilance work in Central America.

Ramp scene at Albrook Airport caught by the camera on a busy sun-drenched day.

Terminal entrance.

HP-1793PST morning departure to Changuinola.

HP-1793PST taxis out for another departure.

Fokkers glinting in the sun.

HP-1973PST being refueled for her upcoming flight.

HP-1793PST. This particular aircraft first flew from Fokker’s Amsterdam-Schiphol production site on August 3, 1989 and was delivered to SAS Eurolink nine days later as OY-KAE. Ten years later she was sold to Air Baltic in Latvia with registration YL-BAS. Air Panama acquired the Fokker in June 2013.

Fokker 50, HP-1793PST, climbing and beginning its left turn after a runway 01 take-off.

HP-1899PST taxies into her base at Albrook.

The City is visible in the background.

This aircraft dates from 1995 and has seen service with long gone carrier Formosa Airlines. In August 2000 she was transferred to Mandarin Airlines. Eight years later she was sold to Alliance Airlines of Australia. In 2022 she was exported to Panama and finally ended up with Air Panama as HP-1899PST.

We got rewarded with bright sunshine on this lovely Saturday, February 3, 2024 and off we go on an uneventful 48 minute flight passing the West coast of Panamá to Bocas del Toro, situated around 300 kilometers in the North East.

External electrical power is plugged in, bags are being loaded and cold air is being blown into the cabin.

Air Panama Fokker 50, HP-1899PST seen here on a sweltering Albrook tarmac on February 3, 2024.

Flight 7P/980 is being prepared for her 48 minutes flight to Bocas del Tore, Panama.

Cessna 172 HP-1626.

Gulfstream G100 N666K is parked on the right hand side.

Cessna Citation Ultra, HP-3010, being fueled.

The Garrett TFE731 turbofans look huge on the sleek Gulfsteam G100.

HP-1899PST at Albrook, ready for action.

Cessna 550 Citation N507EC.

HP-12V is a Beech E90 King Air.

Boarding time for our flight to Bocas del Toro.

Using the stairs enhanced the experience of getting on an airplane - you see the turboprop, hear the ambient sounds, smell the Jet A and feel like you are a part of the process instead of filing through a sterile tube from a room into a cabin.

Noon departure of flight 7P/980 from Albrook to Bocas del Toro and a warm welcome by our Captain.

The Fokker 50 is fitted with two Pratt 7 Whitney Canada PW125B turboprop engines.

Let me stick my head into the cockpit for a quick look.

She's looking happy!

Cleaned-up and on our way.

Passing the Panama Canal.

Three weeks later we were back at Albrook Airport.

Time expired Fokkers.

Several Fokkers are put into long-term storage, others are in a state of parted-out.

FlyTrip Cessna 208 Caravan is seen here taxiing for the 10 minutes flight to Panama-Tocumen.

The MIL was still parked at Albrook.

HP-1921PST missing a few essential components.

Great pic with Central American airport flair!

Fokker 50 HP-1921PST was delivered new to Busy Bee of Norway in 1988. This airframe served with the Norwegian regional five years before the Busy Bee operations had halted due financial difficulties. The aircraft was picked-up by Belgian VLM from Antwerp. During her career with VLM the Fokker also flew for Cityjet and was a familiar visitor to ‘my’ Schiphol airport. Unfortunately VLM ceased operations on June 22, 2016. The Fokker ended up with broker Denim Air from Eindhoven, Netherlands that same year, who sold her to Air Panama a couple of months later.

Unfortunately out of service and resting. Beside the missing props the plane still looks good.

HP-1763PST. This Fokker 100 rolled - off the Amsterdam Schiphol production—line in March 1991. With construction number 011315 she was delivered to TAT – Transport Aerien Transregional as F-GIOD. During her career with TAT, she was leased to British Airways and Deutsche BA. In March 1997 she returned to TAT and she was re-registrated F-GNLI. Some months later she was sold to Air Liberte of France. In 2003, Air Liberte was forced to declare bankruptcy and the Fokker went to work for Air France for the next seven years. In July 2010 she continued her career with Itatlian Eagles Airlines and a year later with PRIMA Aero Transporti Italiani. In November 2011 this company terminated her operations and the Fokker was sold to Dutch aircraft broker Aircraft Financing and Trading who registered her PH-DIM. In August 2012 she left Woensdrecht, the Netherlands for Panama, after her sale to Air Panama.

Perfect photo opportunities on the ramp of Albrook Airport just after our arrival from Chitré, Panamá.

Both Fokkers will remain stranded at Albrook.

A midday temperature of 35 degrees centigrade.

Airframe 020144 was manufactured in 1988 and delivered to Austrian Air Service on January 16, 1989. In May 1994 she was transferred to Tyrolean Airways. From April 1997 she became part of Fokker 50 fleet of Demin Air, which provided ACMI wet leases to many airlines between 1996 and 2016. Consequently our Fokker saw services with Skyways Express from Sweden, European Air Express, Air Nostrum, Flugfelag Island – Air Iceland, VLM and CityJet. During her lease to VLM she wore registration OO-VLL which is still partly visible on her nose wheel door. During January 2017 she was ferried to Panama and Air Panama is using the Fokker 50 for her valuable parts (HP-1922PST).

Anonymous former Cityjet Fokker 50 at Albrook, Panama, minus a few essential components.

On 'death row' is this former Cityjet Fokker 50 photographed at Albrook, Panama, February 2024.

Former Cityjet Fokkr 50 with the Panamá City sky-line in the background.

Approach to Albrook runway 01 with the Panamá Convention Center clearly visibele.

On the righthand site is the Almador causeway clearly visible.

Monumento a Goethals is visible just before landing a Albrook's runway 01. The Goethals Monument was constructed in honor of George Washington Goethals, the chief engineer of the Panama Canal.