Airports / Panama / CHX
Changuinola Captain Manuel Niño International Airport.
Changuinola, Panama · 19 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.3/5
Google rating
76 ratings
0
Operators based
19
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#4 / 8
Panama airports by Google rating
4.3★ across 76 Google ratings , ranked against 8 rated Panama fields.
17 nm
To the nearest alternate
Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport (BOC), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Changuinola Captain Manuel Niño International Airport (MPCH / CHX) is a mid-sized airport serving Changuinola, Panama. Field elevation is 19 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list CHX as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport (BOC, 17 nm), Limón International Airport (LIO, 42 nm), and Buenos Aires Airport (BAI, 51 nm). The field has a single 3,609-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to light jets.
Trip costs from CHX are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from CHX to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
MPCH
IATA
CHX
FAA / Local
MPCH
Elevation
19 ft
Coordinates
9.4590° N · 82.5151° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Panama fields
state range 10–272 ft
At 19 ft, CHX sits lower than 75% of the 8 Panama fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,609 ft
- 03/213,609 ft × 82 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 3,609 ft
CHX's 3,609 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 17nmBOCBocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International AirportIsla Colón
- 42nmLIOLimón International AirportLimón
- 51nmBAIBuenos Aires AirportPunta Arenas
- 58nmOTRCoto 47 AirportCorredores
- 62nmGLFGolfito AirportGolfito
- 64nmPMZPalmar Sur AirportPalmar Sur
Location
Open the full mapMPCH · Changuinola Captain Manuel Niño International Airport · Changuinola, Panama
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CHX on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) | 989 nm | 2h 42m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 1,043 nm | 2h 50m |
| Houston (HOU) | 1,408 nm | 3h 40m |
| Austin (AUS) | 1,507 nm | 3h 54m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 1,613 nm | 4h 9m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 1,617 nm | 4h 10m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 1,791 nm | 4h 34m |
| New York (TEB) | 1,938 nm | 4h 54m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CHX?
- Changuinola Captain Manuel Niño International Airport's longest paved runway is 3,609 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at CHX?
- Changuinola Captain Manuel Niño International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,609 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to CHX?
- The closest alternate is Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport (BOC), about 17 nm away, followed by Limón International Airport (LIO) at 42 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CHX to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Miami about 2h 42m (989 nm), Palm Beach about 2h 50m (1,043 nm), Houston about 3h 40m (1,408 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.