Juan Santamaría International Airport is moving ahead with a major expansion of its parking facilities, including a new eight-level structure that will add 600 vehicle spaces as Costa Rica’s busiest airport continues a broader modernization program. Airport operator AERIS is investing $14.9 million in the first phase of the public parking expansion.
The new building will cover about 21,000 square meters, or 226,000 square feet, and consist of six above-ground levels and two underground levels. It is expected to open in April 2027 and The garage will have space for 600 cars and 32 motorcycles, along with four vehicle entry and exit points. A covered walkway will connect the structure with the airport’s Domestic Terminal, while security, lighting and controlled-access systems are also included in the project.
The expansion represents a substantial increase over the airport’s existing public parking capacity. The Juan Santamaría website currently lists parking for approximately 400 vehicles on two levels, meaning the 600 spaces planned for the new structure would significantly expand the amount of parking available to travelers and visitors.
AERIS is also spending more than $1.2 million on improvements to the existing parking areas. Five electric vehicle charging stations have been installed at a cost of $162,000, with capacity of up to 11.5 kWh. Drivers activate and pay for the charging service through the Atila mobile application.
Another $650,000 was spent covering approximately 3,600 square meters, or nearly 39,000 square feet, of the upper level of the main parking area. The project, completed in June, provides protection from sun and rain and incorporates rainwater collection, solar-powered lighting and a connection designed for a future expansion of the airport terminal.
A separate 720-square-meter area for motorcycles and bicycles has also been developed on the eastern side of the parking complex. The $345,000 project includes its own access and payment system, surveillance cameras, LED lighting and protective barriers.
The parking projects form part of a much larger expansion underway at Juan Santamaría. AERIS is carrying out its 2023-2042 Master Plan, which calls for roughly $390 million in airport improvements over the coming years. Projects include expansion of the international terminal, additional remote aircraft parking, improvements for domestic flights and other infrastructure intended to accommodate growing passenger traffic.
The airport is expected to handle about 6.4 million passengers in 2026, according to figures previously provided by AERIS, putting additional pressure on a terminal that already receives more than six million passengers annually. The parking expansion is one of the more visible parts of that investment program for travelers arriving by car. Once the new structure opens in 2027, passengers should have considerably more parking capacity as well as a covered connection to the Domestic Terminal.
