PaulSZ

Unfortunately Panama ceased all civil air traffic one month ago.

Our problem is: we are in Panama but want to leave asap due to the worsening situation here (safety, human rights).
Our original flight to Europe was cancelled (March, 24th)

On Flightradar we see KL757 AMS-PTY and the return flight KL758 every some days, but it's not possible to book online.

Question is: how could we book on one of these flights?

KVS

KL had removed these flights from the reservation system, leaving 'ghost' AF codeshares only.
You should contact KL to seek clarification.

[KVS Tool 9.7.9/Diamond - Operational Info: AF 8226/19 Apr 2020]

Goldorak

What you are looking for seems to be a repatriation flight. If you are a Dutch citizen, you should contact the local Dutch embassy or consulate and they should guide you on how to return home (it can be a KL flight or another one chartered).

irishguy28

The Dutch are tracking their stranded citizens on this website: www.bijzonderebijstandbuitenland.nl

EDIT: they stopped taking new registrations already last week

Meneer Guggenheimer

My I ask why you did not travel back before the 24th? Or on any other relief flight executed after that day. Many flights had capacity leaving Panama. But those flights are now over.

But to help you.. Mexico City to AMS is still flown. But can you get to Mexico? Otherwise you need to seriously consider finding a safe spot somewhere and sit it out. Keep in contact with your embassy.

Good luck, stay save and be smart.

EricVdb

You might be too late already, but contact the embassy as soon as possible to see if there is still a chance to get out of the country..

fifty_two

really ?? what is going on now ??

can't you leave the country by road or sea then reach a country from which you can fly back to europe ??

As EricVDB said , one month can be a bit too late , but asking embassy won't kill

PaulSZ

Dutch embassy says:
* there is no evacuation flights any more (but what is KL758 then?)
* we won't allow you on the flight anyway since you hold a wrong citizenship (Germany)

ctbarron

Contact the German Embassy on repatriation flights then?

splflyer

Flight KL 757 is currently only taking cargo . its operated 2 x a week.
According to the airlines website klm will only restart itself flights when restrictions are lifted. AF resumes, june 1st.
best options indeed for the moment out of MEX or via ATL/LAX/JFK /GRU

Options are just very limited.

PaulSZ

They shut down all civil flights on March 22 or 23 (can't remember the exact date). After this they implemented presidential decrees banning more than 90% of the population from work, impoverishing most. They implemented a total prohibition on alcohol and most basic goods so the organized crime is flourishing. First lootings happened. Human rights situation is worsening. Panama is no longer a safe place to stay.

the few land border crossings are closed. Civil maritime traffic is illegal, too.

We did. Our embassy does not support us, since we are residents and no tourists. Dutch embassy does not support us, since we are no Dutch.

fifty_two

omg !! and i thought Noriega's style was over , i was wrong . It's sad to see the country going backwards again

so the canal even is closed ??? Cause if this happen US troops will invade the country within few hours

if you are EU citizen then stay in touch with other EU citizens to see if their embassies organise something

Otherwise try to reach aruba by sea but it probably won't be in a legal way . I won't recommend you to fo to colombia by yourself as a "refugee" , so you are out of options , cause the closest big airport , SJO is also closed for international traffic as far as i know

irishguy28

It's the regularly-scheduled PTY-AMS flight which last operated on 12 April 2020, and which does not feature in KLM's published list of destinations served currently.

Remember that given the wide distribution and publication of airline timetables, which are automatically picked up and distributed widely on many other websites but which those same websites will not meticulously now investigate in order to update/correct whatever their listings may show, you will find, if you look, references to hundreds and thousands of flights, originally scheduled to operate all through the coming summer, but which will not operate. Just because you can find, somewhere, reference to a particular flight, then do not take it for granted that that flight will operate.

The next flight for which the KLM website shows as operating is KL758 on Thursday 7 May, but do not take this as total proof that the flight will actually accept passengers or even be operated. Prices only appear to be loaded for flights from June 1 onwards.

KL803

Your best bet in these circumstances is still the embassy of your residence country. As I know, the situation you describe is very similar to the one in the Philippines. The Swiss Embassy there has nonetheless been able to organise a repatriation flight from Cebu and Manila in cooperation with Qatar Airways and local governments. Embassies can organise such flights with diplomatic clearance, so they can operate even if the airport is closed to civil aviation. Be persistent and keep in contact with your embassy, they might be able to cooperate repatriation together with other embassies. Good luck!

AHC96

You're making it sound a lot worse than it is. My family is in Panama and the situation is far from unsafe, it's actually safer than usual. Little looting is happening (Specially outside of the red zones), and human rights are still respected. Everyone is in self isolation, so of course people are not working, 'work from home' is not a thing in Panama, and many were still getting paid until few days ago. No alcohol is being sold because the government doesn't want to deal with drunk people being stupid or violent.

Anyhow, as others said, contact another EU embassy and explain the situation. PTY closed on 23 March but some humanitarian flights arrived to take people to Europe (Including Lufthansa with a 747 and KLM with a 77W). PTY will stay closed for a while, the only real way to get out of Panama is to travel to Costa Rica by land. If you're in Panama City, simply stay away from red zones (Chorrillo, Curundu, San Miguelito, etc.) and stay in the downtown. Otherwise, leave Panama City for another smaller town which are relatively safer and cheaper. Some public transport is still allowed.