3 airlines inaugurate flights to Costa Rica

Alaska Airlines, Thomson Airways and Southwest Airlines between inaugurated new routes to and from Costa Rica’s international terminals in recent days.

On Saturday, Alaska made its first flight to Costa Rica on its Los Angeles-San José route, which is now operating four times a week. On Sunday, the airline launched its first flight between Los Angeles and Liberia, Guanacaste. Four flights to Costa Rica a week will also be offered on that route.

Another U.S. carrier, Southwest Airlines, also launched the first flight of its daily route between Houston and Liberia on Sunday. On Nov. 7 the carrier will begin its route between Baltimore and Liberia, which will operate every Saturday.

On Monday, the U.K.’s Thomson Airways made its first weekly flight on the Gatwick-Liberia route using a B787-800 Dreamliner with a capacity for 291 passengers.

Tourism Minister Mauricio Ventura said authorities are pleased that the new airlines and new routes benefit both of the country’s international terminals.

Costa Rica now has 70 connections to destinations worldwide, according to ICT data. A total of 17 airlines operate to and from Juan Santamaría International Airport, allowing direct connections with flights to 46 destinations. Ten airlines operate flights to and from Daniel Oduber International Airport, providing connections to 24 destinations.

Ventura said attracting new airlines is daily work, and that there should be more new routes and airlines to announce in the near future.