An Update on the Rio Hato Airport

The beaches will start seeing regular charter flights flying into the new Scarlett Martinez International Airport Rio Hato airport (MPHR), just four months after the first commercial flight landed at the new airport. In a press release published July 10, 2014, Sunwing Airlines announced that regular charters coming from Toronto, Canada would be flying in to the Rio Hato airport every Friday starting August 1, 2014. Daniel Xahuentitla, Sunwing’s lead representative, at the Riu Hotel in Playa Blanca confirmed this information for us. However airport administrator Mr. Morgeniz Cano, was not able to confirm if or when flights local would be available.

While the airport seems to be getting off to a slow start, one thing for sure, once the airport kicks into gear the entire area will benefit. With several all-inclusive resorts now open in the beaches area, we can expect to see the beach tourism businesses grow. For travellers coming to the Pacific coast, the new airport will save a significant amount of travel time getting from the airport to the resort. 

We were not able to get any information about whether or not seats would be available for purchase locally on flights departing from the Scarlett Martinez International Airport. As to what other airlines will be flying in and whether or not the airport will support domestic traffic, we are in a wait-and-see situation.