The 5 Most Important Airports for Costa Rica

Located in Alajuela, just 17 km west of San José, Juan Santamaría International Airport serves as Costa Rica’s primary gateway for international and domestic travel. Named after a national hero, the airport is a hub for Avianca Costa Rica, Costa Rica Green Airways, SANSA, and Volaris Costa Rica, offering connections to North America, Central America, South America, and Europe.

Key Features:

• Facilities: Modern terminals with VIP lounges, expanded migration and security areas, and wide-body aircraft gates. The airport features Costa Rica-inspired decor, international dining options, and high-tech navigation systems.
• Airlines & Destinations: 30 airlines operate flights to 43 international destinations, including direct connections to cities like Miami, Madrid, Paris, and Bogotá.
• Statistics: In 2023, the airport handled 5.7 million passengers and over 86,000 flight operations, making it the second busiest airport in Central America.
• History: Opened in 1958 to replace the outdated La Sabana airstrip, it was renamed in 1971 to honor Juan Santamaría. Since 2009, Aeris Holding manages the airport, leading modernization projects to expand its capacity.
• Future Plans: Negotiations are underway to establish routes to Scandinavia, Italy, and Portugal, further enhancing connectivity.

Domestic and Cargo Services:

• Domestic flights connect to 12 cities, including La Fortuna and Tamarindo, operated by SANSA and Costa Rica Green Airways.
• Cargo services link Costa Rica to major hubs like Miami and Panama.

With its ongoing expansions and strategic location, Juan Santamaría International Airport is a vital component of Costa Rica’s growing tourism and aviation industry.

Here is the complete list of airlines operating at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO):

Passenger Airlines

1. Aeroméxico
2. Air Canada
3. Air France
4. Air Transat (Seasonal)
5. Alaska Airlines
6. American Airlines
7. Arajet
8. Avianca
9. Avianca Costa Rica
10. Avianca El Salvador
11. British Airways (Seasonal)
12. Copa Airlines
13. Costa Rica Green Airways
14. Delta Air Lines
15. Edelweiss Air
16. Frontier Airlines (Seasonal)
17. Gol Linhas Aéreas
18. Iberia
19. Iberojet
20. JetBlue Airways
21. KLM (Seasonal)
22. LATAM Perú
23. Lufthansa
24. SANSA
25. Southwest Airlines
26. Spirit Airlines
27. United Airlines
28. Volaris
29. Volaris Costa Rica
30. Volaris El Salvador
31. Wingo

Cargo Airlines

1. ABX Air
2. AerCaribe Cargo
3. AeroUnion
4. Amerijet International
5. Avianca Cargo
6. Cargojet Airways
7. DHL Aero Expreso
8. DHL de Guatemala
9. FedEx Express
10. La Costeña
11. LATAM Cargo Colombia
12. Mas Air
13. UPS Airlines

Direct link: https://www.sjoairport.com/

Costa Rica’s second-largest airport and a key gateway to the country’s Pacific coast. Located near Liberia in the Guanacaste province, it serves as a hub for travelers exploring the Gulf of Papagayo, Nicoya Peninsula, and popular destinations like Tamarindo, Flamingo Beach, and Monteverde.

Opened in 1975 and renamed in 1994 to honor former President Daniel Oduber, the airport features a modern terminal equipped to handle international flights from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Airlines such as American, Delta, JetBlue, and KLM connect travelers to major cities like Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Amsterdam.

With over 1.3 million passengers in 2022, the airport plays a vital role in Costa Rica’s tourism industry. Its strategic location and favorable weather make it an alternative to San José’s Juan Santamaría Airport, providing seamless access to beaches, national parks, and volcanoes.

Here is a list of airlines that operate flights to Guanacaste Airport (LIR), Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport:

• American Airlines: Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, seasonal routes to Chicago–O’Hare, Philadelphia, New York–JFK.
• Delta Air Lines: Atlanta, Los Angeles, seasonal routes to Boston, Minneapolis/St. Paul.
• United Airlines: Houston (IAH), seasonal routes to Chicago–O’Hare, Denver, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco.
• Southwest Airlines: Denver, Houston (Hobby), seasonal route to Baltimore.
• JetBlue Airways: New York–JFK, seasonal route to Boston.
• Alaska Airlines: Los Angeles, seasonal routes to San Francisco and Seattle/Tacoma.
• Air Canada: Toronto–Pearson, seasonal route to Montreal–Trudeau.
• WestJet: Calgary, Toronto–Pearson.
• Air Transat: Seasonal routes to Montreal–Trudeau and Toronto–Pearson.
• Sunwing Airlines: Seasonal routes to Montreal–Trudeau and Toronto–Pearson.
• Edelweiss Air: Seasonal route to Zurich.
• KLM: Seasonal route to Amsterdam.
• TUI Airways: Seasonal route to London–Gatwick.
• SANSA: Domestic flights to Nosara, Quepos, San José, Tamarindo, and Tambor.

Liberia is near one of the most popular attractions in Costa Rica: Tubing in Rio Celeste

Direct link: https://www.liberiacrairport.com/

Located in Limón, Costa Rica, this is one of the country’s four international airports, though its current operations are limited to domestic flights. The airport serves as a gateway to Puerto Limón and the southern Caribbean towns, including Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, and Manzanillo, as well as nearby indigenous communities like Bri Bri and Suretka, all within two hours by ground transportation.

Key Facts:

• Domestic Flights: SANSA Airlines operates daily flights to and from San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport.
• Navigation Aids: Equipped with the Limón non-directional beacon (NDB) and VOR/DME for improved navigation.
• History: Reopened in 2006 after being closed for nearly 20 years, it remains the main airport for Costa Rica’s Caribbean region.
• Future Plans: Proposed upgrades include a new passenger terminal reflecting local culture, eco-friendly features, and expanded runway dimensions (from 10m to 18m wide and up to 1,137m long) to boost tourism and regional connectivity.