Travelling from New York to Panama City: what you need to know
You can choose from a range of airports when organising your flight from New York to Panama City. Check out your options for jetting out of New York from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
Arrive in Panama City at Tocumen International Airport (PTY) or Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB).
Around 5 hours 25 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct New York to Panama City flight.
Panama City's timezone is UTC-5, which makes Panama City one hour behind New York.
With 23 flights a week between the two airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is the most popular route. Board the first flight from New York to Panama City with Copa Airlines at 01:17. If you prefer to get more out of your day before flying, the latest flight from JFK to PTY is with Copa Airlines at 15:44.
To ensure you make your New York to Panama City flight, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Be prepared for bigger queues during popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from New York to Panama City
Get cheap New York to Panama City flights by booking three months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for finding a bargain.
June is the best month for landing an awesome deal on a plane ticket from New York to Panama City. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you the moment a better deal is available on cheap flights from New York to Panama City.
Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your New York to Panama City flight results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
You can get a direct flight from New York to Panama City departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Begin your trip at JFK and end it at Tocumen International Airport (PTY).
Look out for deals with Copa Airlines. This airline offers direct New York to Panama City plane tickets from JFK.
Think about adding a stopover to potentially save money on your New York to Panama City flight. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Take a pause at one of these popular options:
Miami International Airport (MIA)
El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE)
Travelling from central New York to JFK takes about 1 hour 20 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 19 kilometres in 50 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want an easy start to your holiday? Stay near John F. Kennedy International Airport. Whether you're taking an early flight from New York to Panama City or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
Of all flights leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport, 74.1% land on time at their destination.
You'll find JFK at JFK Airport.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
You can catch a nonstop flight from New York to Panama City out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Begin your travels at EWR and come in for landing at Tocumen International Airport (PTY).
Book a direct New York to Panama City plane ticket with United Airlines. This is one of the top airlines that operates this route out of EWR.
Visit family or friends or just take a moment to stretch your legs with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your New York to Panama City flight, check out these options when taking off from Newark Liberty International Airport:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
EWR is around 14 kilometres from central New York. It'll take you 30 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Kick off your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from New York to Panama City, kick back in one of these hotels close to Newark Liberty International Airport:
73% of all departures from Newark Liberty International Airport arrive within the expected time frame.
You'll find EWR at Building 1, Conrad Road.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Lock in a ticket from New York to Panama City out of LaGuardia Airport (LGA) with one or more stops. Popular stopovers between LGA and Panama City include:
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
LGA is around 13 kilometres from central New York. The drive from the city centre to the terminal takes about 25 minutes. If you're planning to take public transport, you can expect a journey of around 1 hour.
Skip the rush on your departure day — stay near LaGuardia Airport and know you'll make it to your boarding gate with time to spare. Check in to one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early New York to Panama City flight:
LGA has a top-tier on-time arrivals performance of 80.0%, so you can rely on your flight to stay on schedule and touch down when it should.
The street address of LaGuardia Airport is Hangar 7 Centre.
Arriving in Panama City
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to central Panama City takes around 20 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 16 kilometres away.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from New York to Panama City, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these hotels near PTY:
Grab a Tocumen International Airport rental car and explore Panama City and beyond with your own wheels. Avis, Dollar and MEX are leading providers you can book with here.
To get the lowest price, reserve your ride from Tocumen International Airport about three weeks in advance of your New York to Panama City flight.
Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC)
After your flight from New York to Panama City has hit the tarmac, you can make your way to the city centre in around 5 minutes by car. Central Panama City is roughly 2 kilometres from Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC).
If you hop on public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 25 minutes or so.
After your flight from New York to Panama City, unwind at a hotel close to BLB. These are some comfortable options that'll help you switch to relaxation mode:
Forget about public transport schedules or long cab queues. Pick up a Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport rental car and go in any direction that inspires you. Check out the rates and availability from Thrifty, Avis and Alamo.
Snap up a deal by securing your ride from PAC three weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a greater range of vehicles.
Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB)
Make your way to the city centre after your flight from New York to Panama City has arrived. Central Panama City is about 11 kilometres from Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB) and takes roughly 20 minutes to reach by car.
Whether you want an economy just for you or a full-size SUV to transport your group, you'll find the right Panama Pacifico Airport rental car for your needs. Explore the range of wheels available from names such as Sixt, Dollar and Thrifty.
Get ahead of the game and reap the rewards. Book your ride from BLB one week before your flight from New York to Panama City to access the best deals.
Best time to go to Panama City
February is the quietest month for flights from New York to Panama City, while June is the most popular. Pick the ideal time to go to Panama City based on whether you prefer a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Before locking in your New York to Panama City tickets, think about the kind of weather you prefer. March is the warmest month in Panama City, with temperatures ranging from 21ºC to 32ºC.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from New York to Panama City in February when temperatures average between 22ºC and 31ºC.
More about Panama City
Start your Panama City trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from New York to Panama City, explore our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Panama Canal Museum, Casco Viejo and Cinta Costera are top attractions which should feature on every Panama City itinerary.
Explore more of Panama
San Miguelito is just one of the many places in Panama waiting to be explored after you've seen Panama City. Around 6 kilometres to the north, its top attractions include Iglesia Cristo Luz del Mundo, IDMJI SAN MIGUELITO and Iglesia Bautista Independiente Emanuel.
Juan Díaz is another standout destination in Panama and is around 11 kilometres north-east of Panama City. No journey is complete without experiencing Malecon Costa Del Este, El Patio Human Friendly and Parque Los Robles Sur.
