Air Transat launches expanded service between Canada and Costa Rica

Canadian airline Air Transat will connect both Liberia and San José with Vancouver starting Wednesday when it launches twice-weekly service between the three cities. 

The seasonal route will last through April 25, 2020, as part of the leisure airline’s Mexican, Caribbean and Central American focus during Canadian winters.

Air Transat’s Airbus A321LR aircraft departed Vancouver (YVR) at 6:30 a.m. local time Wednesday and will land in Alajuela (SJO) at approximately 3:45 p.m. Following a one-hour layover, the flight will proceed to Liberia, Guanacaste (LIR) before returning to Vancouver. 

The return flight will leave Costa Rica at 6:40 p.m. local time with a scheduled arrival in Vancouver at 12:20 a.m. 

“Bringing our Airbus A321neoLRs into our fleet in winter 2019-2020 will give us greater flexibility, which will help us reinforce our leadership in Quebec, strengthen our presence in Ontario and return in force in the Canadian west,” said Annick Guérard, chief operating officer for Air Transat, when the route was announced earlier this year. “We will therefore be adding new destinations out of Vancouver, including Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as well as Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica.”

The triangle route is similar to KLM’s offering from Amsterdam to Liberia through San José.

“A new stage is opening for the coordinated operation of both international airports,” said María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism. “The fact that Air Transat becomes the second airline offering a triangular flight to these two airports is an opportunity to multiply visitation, generate employment and continue to strengthen Costa Rica as a tourist destination.”

Air Transat also offers direct flights from Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL) to both of Costa Rica’s international airports. The Montreal-San José route is operated on behalf of Air Canada.