Smoking at Panama Airports (PTY)

English

Panama has one of Latin America’s strictest smoke-free laws, and Tocumen — Copa Airlines’ huge “Hub of the Americas” — has no designated smoking area anywhere, indoors or out. For a transit smoker on a Copa connection, that’s important to know in advance: there is genuinely no way to smoke without leaving the airport.

Panama Airports Compared: Before and After Security

Before security, you can always smoke outside: at a designated smoking area where there is one, or outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks. After security, Yes means there is a smoking area past security and a dash means none is listed. Each airport’s page has the details.

Airport	Before security	After security
Panama City (PTY)	Yes	–

For international travel through Panama, Tocumen (PTY) is the airport that matters.

How Panamanian Airport Smoking Works

Panama’s Ley 13 de 2008 bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces with no designated-area exception, and Tocumen extends the ban to its outdoor areas:

No smoking anywhere on airport property — not airside (Terminals 1 or 2), not landside
The airport’s own policy extends the ban to every outdoor area, entrances and car parks included
E-cigarettes: the 2022 outright ban (Law 315) was ruled unconstitutional in 2024; Ministry of Health Resolution 146 of 2025 now regulates vapes and heated tobacco and prohibits their use in terminals and public transport
Fines range from 10 to 100,000 balboas; enforcement is firm

The Hub

Tocumen International Airport (PTY). Copa Airlines’ “Hub of the Americas” (Terminals 1 and 2), a major Latin American connecting point. There is no smoking area on airport property at all. The only way to smoke is to fully exit the airport — and on a Copa connection that means clearing immigration and security both ways, which needs Panama’s entry requirements to let you in and a connection long enough for both queues. Treat PTY as a “no smoking on this layover” airport.

Tips for Smokers at Panama’s Airports

Tocumen has no airside or landside smoking area anywhere on the property
On a typical 1–3 hour Copa connection, smoking is effectively impossible
Even with a long layover, you’d clear immigration and security both ways to smoke outside
Vaping in terminals is prohibited under Resolution 146 of 2025 — keep any device packed away

Last updated: October 24, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY)?

Tocumen International (PTY) has no designated smoking area anywhere, airside or landside (including entrances, parking and pickup areas). To smoke you must clear immigration and leave the airport grounds entirely.

Is there smoking after security at Tocumen Airport?

Tocumen has no smoking area after security in Terminal 1 or 2, and none landside either. On a Copa connection, smoking is only possible with a long layover that lets you immigrate into Panama and leave.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Panama's airports?

Vaping is banned everywhere smoking is at Tocumen. Panama’s outright vape ban (Law 315 of 2022) was struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2024, and Ministry of Health Resolution 146 of 2025 now regulates e-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco — prohibiting their use in terminals and public transport. Keep any device packed away.

How do I smoke during a layover at Tocumen Airport?

Clear immigration and leave the airport — with no smoking area anywhere on the site, that is the one way to smoke. It works when Panama’s entry requirements let you in, your bags are checked through, and your connection leaves time for two sets of queues; confirm all three with your airline first.

Why does Tocumen have no smoking area?

Panama’s Ley 13 de 2008 is one of Latin America’s strictest smoke-free laws, with no designated-area exception, and the airport extends the ban to its outdoor areas. Enforcement is firm, with fines from 10 to 100,000 balboas.