ALTA recommends Panama drop bill proposing to charge connecting passengers

ALTA recommended (02-Sep-2019) Panama to withdraw the draft bill which intends to charge passengers connecting in Panama. ALTA president Luis Felipe de Oliveira stated: "The proposed tax on passengers in transit will reduce Panama's competitiveness as a connecting hub, reduce passengers and services, and negatively affect tourism and the important economic contributions generated by aviation to the country". The aviation industry generates over USD8.5 billion in GDP p/a, 14% of the country's GDP. [more - original PR - Spanish]