United Airlines announces more nonstop flights to Houston and New York during Christmas season

U.S. carrier United Airlines on Monday confirmed it will increase the number of nonstop flights between Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica and hubs at George Bush International Airport in Houston and Newark Liberty in New York, both in the United States.

The increase in flights will coincide with the year-end holiday season, from Dec. 19 to Jan. 4, the company stated in a press relase.

On those dates the airline will add four weekly flights from San José to Houston on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, and two San José-Newark flights on Saturdays and Sundays. All flights will be operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a 152-seat capacity.

“These additional flights will allow us to respond to the strong demand of flights to Costa Rica from travelers from the U.S., Europe and Asia during the holidays,” said Salvador Marrero, United’s executive director for Central America.

Costa Rican Tourism Minister Wilhelm von Breymann said in a press release that the increase in flights demonstrates the country’s continuous efforts to increase the number of visits from major tourism markets.

“The U.S. is the biggest source of tourists to Costa Rica. Last year alone we recorded 1,617,442 international arrivals in the country by air, and almost 54 percent of those people came from that country. The increase in the number of flights will help attract more tourists from those U.S. cities,” von Breymann said.

Rafael Mencia, CEO of Aeris — the company that manages the Juan Santamaría International Airport outside San José — said they are pleased with United’s decision to respond to the high demand during the holidays.