Costa Rica’s high season challenges Liberia airport capacity

QCOSTARICA — With 34 operational routes, the Guanacaste Airport (LIR) in Liberua, will be put to the test during the coming high tourist season.

The goal that the authorities of the air terminal have set is that the time of attention per passenger is not more than one hour, according to César Jaramillo, general manager of the airport.

In the low season, the average service and dispatch time at the airport is less than 30 minutes.

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However, to meet this service time, the government must also do its part, and the airport terminal must have enough immigration, customs and health officers.

Also, all X-ray equipment must be operational throughout the season; otherwise, the service provided by the airport could weaken, and with it, the image of Costa Rica would be affected.

To operate optimally, 21 immigration officers are required at arrivals and 14 in departures

“This is an issue of administrative role on the part of the government. For our part, we are ready to receive the growing number of visitors,” said Jaramillo.

On the other hand, Shirley Calvo, executive director of the National Chamber of Tourism, expressed her dissatisfaction with the government because the maintenance work on the runway was suspended for three months due to a redesign of the project.

This has led KLM airlines to decide not to fly to Guanacaste until further notice and to divert its flights to the Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose (SJO).

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The worst of all is that other airlines could follow in the KLM footsteps. Dominican Republic’s Arajet Airlines, Colombia’s Avianca and Spain’s Iberia are reportedly reluctant to continue flights in and out of the Guanacaste Airport due to problems with the runway.

Likewise, Swiss airline Edelweiss informed the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transport (MOPT) of its concern and the possibility of canceling its operations at the Guanacaste Airport.

“This measure not only affects passengers who had scheduled their arrival in Liberia, but also impacts Guanacaste’s air connectivity with strategic markets. The maintenance schedules must be respected since the lack of certainty affects the confidence of airlines and the competitiveness of Costa Rica compared to other international destinations,” Calvo concluded.

For 2023, the Guanacaste Airport had more than 1.9 million passengers. For 2024, that number is expected to be even higher.

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Starting in December, the Guanacaste Airport will have four new routes: American Airlines will begin operations from Philadelphia International Airport, the first direct route connecting with Costa Rica; Delta Airlines will also introduce its new flight from Boston’s Logan; and Alaska Airlines will have two new flights from San Francisco and Seattle.

Is the airport ready?

The government and the private sector are working together to provide the best experience for tourists arriving in our country through the Guanacaste Airport.

The idea is to provide the shortest time for passengers to enter and leave the country.

Mauricio Batalla, MOPT Minister, assures we have an interdisciplinary group of different public entities working for the high season, generating the action plan to mitigate all the problems that may arise and thus provide the best experience for visitors.

For her part, Shirley Calvo, Executive Director National Chamber of Tourism, said airlines and the private sector depend on precise and reliable planning. “The halt in the repair work on the runway at the airport not only creates uncertainty but also alters the operational planning of both airlines and companies that serve tourists.”

For Cesar Jaramillo, General Manager of the Guanacaste Airport, said to operate optimally, the terminal needs 21 immigration officers at arrivals and 14 at departures, in addition to the police, customs, and health having 3 x-ray machines each working. “This is a role and administrative issue on the part of the government,” noted Jaramillo.

The 34 routes during high season: