Airports / Panama / SYP
Ruben Cantu Airport.
Santiago, Panama · 272 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.3/5
Google rating
47 ratings
0
Operators based
272
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
32 nm
To the nearest alternate
Alonso Valderrama Airport (CTD).
Overview
Ruben Cantu Airport, listed as MPSA / SYP, is a mid-sized airport in Santiago, Panama. The field lies at an elevation of 272 feet. The field has no airline schedules, which keeps it focused on private and general aviation flying.
SYP has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Alonso Valderrama Airport (CTD, 32 nm), Enrique Malek International Airport (DAV, 90 nm), and Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC, 98 nm). SYP offers a single 3,937-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the light jet class.
Quotes for flights out of SYP vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Santiago. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from SYP, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
MPSA
IATA
SYP
FAA / Local
MPSA
Elevation
272 ft
Coordinates
8.0856° N · 80.9453° 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
No
Elevation vs Panama fields
state range 10–272 ft
At 272 ft, SYP sits higher than 88% of the 8 Panama fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,937 ft
- 17/353,937 ft × 82 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 3,937 ft
SYP's 3,937 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.
- 32nmCTDAlonso Valderrama AirportChitré
- 90nmDAVEnrique Malek International AirportDavid
- 98nmPACMarcos A. Gelabert International AirportAlbrook
- 100nmONXEnrique Adolfo Jimenez AirportColón
- 108nmBOCBocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International AirportIsla Colón
- 110nmPTYTocumen International AirportTocumen
Location
Open the full mapMPSA · Ruben Cantu Airport · Santiago, Panama
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SYP on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) | 1,064 nm | 2h 52m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 1,118 nm | 3h 0m |
| Houston (HOU) | 1,526 nm | 3h 57m |
| Austin (AUS) | 1,627 nm | 4h 11m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 1,713 nm | 4h 23m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 1,730 nm | 4h 25m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 1,862 nm | 4h 44m |
| New York (TEB) | 2,001 nm | 5h 3m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SYP?
- Ruben Cantu Airport's longest paved runway is 3,937 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 SYP?
- Ruben Cantu Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,937 ft on a paved surface.
- What is the nearest major airport to SYP?
- The closest alternate is Alonso Valderrama Airport (CTD), about 32 nm away, followed by Enrique Malek International Airport (DAV) at 90 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SYP to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Miami about 2h 52m (1,064 nm), Palm Beach about 3h 0m (1,118 nm), Houston about 3h 57m (1,526 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.