KLM (www.klm.com) and Iberia (www.iberia.com) are the only European airlines offering direct service to Panama.

KLM offers three weekly nonstops from its hub in Amsterdam. Iberia flies between its hub in Madrid and Panama City, usually connecting through Miami or San José, Costa Rica.

The best deals are sometimes available through carriers that don’t fly directly between Europe and Central America. Often this requires no more than one stop. U.S. carriers that fly to both Europe and Panama offer connecting flights through their East Coast hubs in the United States.

British Airways (www.britishairways.com), Virgin Atlantic (www.virgin-atlantic.co), and Air France (www.airfrance.com) offer flights in conjunction with code share partners.

Expect to pay around €800–950 for round-trip tickets between most European countries and Panama. Lower fares may start to appear if Panama becomes a hot tourist destination, as many are gambling it will. Consider buying an air pass if you plan to travel elsewhere in the Americas.

A good way to compare all current routes and fares is through an Internet travel search service such as Kayak (www.kayak.co.uk) or Expedia (www.expedia.co.uk).

Those in the United Kingdom should also check out Journey Latin America (tel. 020/8747-3108, www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk), a knowledgeable, London-based tour operator and travel agency that books flights to Panama, sells several kinds of air passes, and offers a few adventure-oriented Panama tours. Its website has lots of current information.