Heavy fog and rain disrupted flight operations at Juan Santamaría International Airport on Monday, forcing five commercial flights to divert and delaying several departures from Costa Rica’s main international gateway.
The weather problem developed around midday as fog and persistent rain reduced visibility around the airport terminal in Alajuela. Aeris, the airport operator, said five commercial flights bound for Juan Santamaría were diverted as an operational safety measure taken by the airlines.
The airport remained open, and operations were not suspended. Still, the weather caused a ripple effect for travelers, especially those flying between San José and major international destinations such as Mexico City, Orlando, Houston, New York and Miami.
Passengers reported receiving notifications from their airlines about itinerary changes, delays and possible rescheduling. Later this afternoon, the airport’s live departure board listed delays on international flights to Houston, Mexico City, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, New York and Miami. The arrivals board also showed delays on flights coming from Fort Lauderdale and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Domestic air travel also appeared to be affected. Several SANSA flights were listed as canceled this afternoon, including services connected to Drake Bay, La Fortuna, Limón, Nosara and Cóbano.
Aeris reminded travelers that decisions about delays, diversions, cancellations or rescheduling are made by each airline based on operational and safety conditions. The airport operator advised passengers to stay in direct contact with their carrier before heading to the terminal.
The disruption came as Costa Rica remains under a stretch of unstable weather. The National Meteorological Institute reported Monday that the Intertropical Convergence Zone over the country, along with a tropical depression in the Pacific, was generating rainy conditions. The National Emergency Commission has placed the Pacific slope and the Central Valley under yellow alert, while the Northern Zone and Caribbean remain under green alert.
For those with flights from San Jose, the main point is that Juan Santamaría Airport is open, but flight schedules may continue to change with little notice. Anyone flying Monday evening or early Tuesday should check airline apps, email alerts and official flight boards before leaving for the airport.
The weather-related delays come during one of the wetter periods of the rainy season so far, with saturated soils and continued downpours raising concerns about road conditions, landslides and localized flooding in parts of the country.
