Delta to add new Minneapolis-San José flight

Delta will increase its flights to Costa Rica in December with the launch of a new seasonal Saturday nonstop flight between Minneapolis and San José, the U.S. airline announced Monday.

The new route will operate from Dec. 21 to March 29, 2014, and will use an 180-seat Boeing 757-200 aircraft.

This will be the only nonstop service offered between San José and Minneapolis, the company said on its website, and it will complement Delta’s existing services between San José-Atlanta and the new San José-Los Angeles route scheduled to begin on July 1.

Delta’s announcement of new routes comes days after Avianca-Taca airlines reported the closure of five nonstop flights to Costa Rica, a move that angered local tourism officials, business owners and frequent-flying passengers.

Last month the National Tourism Chamber described Avianca’s decision as “inappropriate and disrespectful to Costa Rica,” and said it would create a deficit of some 8,000 direct visitors who likely would stop coming to the country, as well as a monthly decrease of some 180-220 flights.

Delta’s new route is already available for booking through the airline’s website.