QCOSTARICA — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urges the government of Costa Rica to address the poor condition of the runway at the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) — also known as Guanacaste Airport, in Liberia, and urges the authorities to reactivate as soon as possible the rehabilitation project that was underway, as well as a short, medium and long-term maintenance plan that allows its correct operation.
For more than a year, the sector has been expressing its concern about the progressive deterioration of the runway.
The delay and eventual temporary suspension of the works added to the heavy rains causing the airport to shut down for almost five consecutive days earlier this month, have resulted in its inoperability at the start of the high season, leaving the industry unable to adequately plan the impact of this situation on its operations.
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Additionally, the decision to close the airport and then reopen it was taken suddenly; This caused some airlines to divert or cancel their flights, preventing them from fulfilling their schedules for reasons beyond their control and, consequently, affecting 167 international flights and approximately 30,000 passengers who had planned to travel to or from this important tourist destination.
Read more: Thousands of tourists stranded in Guanacaste
Initially, due to runway deterioration made worse by heavy rainfall, the airport was closed Friday, November 15, and Saturday, November 16. A brief reopening on Sunday the 17th lasted only hours before authorities ordered an extended shutdown that continued Monday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 19. The airport was finally reopened on Wednesday, November 20, a day ahead of schedule, after emergency repairs were completed.
Read more: Closure of Guanacaste Airport will continue until Thursday
IATA reiterates its willingness to collaborate and establish an open channel of communication with the authorities to ensure that operations at the airport can be carried out safely, efficiently and smoothly.
The Guanacaste Airport, located 11 kilometers west-southwest of the city of Liberia in Guanacaste Province, serves as a tourism hub for those who visit the Pacific coast and western Costa Rica.
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The airport has a single 2,750-metre runway that can handle wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 747, and is within a 30 to 60-minute drive from the country’s major beaches and tourist attractions.
According to the airport operator, the airport experienced its highest visitation rates on record last year with a total of 1,652,078 passengers. This marked a 35% increase compared to 2019 and a 14% increase compared to 2022.
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