Scarlett Martinez International Airport (RIH)

Scarlett Martinez International Airport operates as Panama's premier beach resort aviation gateway, positioned 3 kilometers east of Río Hato in Coclé Province at 121 feet elevation, representing one of Central America's most remarkable military-to-civilian airport conversions following a $53.2 million reconstruction project completed in 2013. Named in honor of Scarlett Martinez, a Panamanian airline co-pilot who tragically died in a 1992 crash, this facility transformed a World War II-era Rio Hato Army Air Base built in 1942 into a modern international terminal specifically designed to serve Panama's Pacific coast tourism boom.

The airport features a single 2,450-meter asphalt runway (17/35) incorporating remarkable engineering innovation where the runway crosses directly over the Pan-American Highway via a specially constructed tunnel system, ensuring uninterrupted highway traffic flow while maintaining aviation operations. The modern terminal building efficiently processes international charter flights primarily from Sunwings and other carriers serving Canadian and American vacationers, featuring streamlined immigration and customs facilities designed for rapid processing of leisure travelers destined for nearby luxury resorts including Playa Blanca, Decameron, and Farallon.

Operational infrastructure reflects the airport's specialized tourism focus, with facilities optimized for handling charter aircraft and vacation travel rather than traditional commercial airline operations, supported by ground transportation systems providing 5-10 minute transfers to major Pacific coast resorts. The facility's unique history includes its role during Operation Just Cause in December 1989, when it became the first combat target for U.S. Air Force F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighters and witnessed the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 75th Ranger Regiment parachute assault that neutralized Panamanian Defense Forces positions.

Strategic importance encompasses the airport's vital role supporting Panama's Pacific coast tourism development, enabling direct international access to luxury beach destinations that bypass Panama City's congestion while contributing significantly to regional economic development. The facility embodies successful infrastructure repurposing, transforming from a strategic military installation protecting the Panama Canal during World War II into a civilian gateway that has catalyzed tourism growth along Panama's Pacific Rivera, where the combination of tropical climate, luxury accommodations, and convenient aviation access has established the region as a premier Central American beach destination for North American travelers seeking convenient Caribbean-style luxury vacation experiences.