CORIPORT, the company that manages the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica’s northwestern Guanacaste province, announced it will expand the terminal in coming months prompted by a significant increase in passenger traffic.
Work at the terminal, located in the canton of Liberia near many of the country’s popular northern Pacific beaches, will include the expansion of current waiting and baggage claim areas as well as new spaces for shops and offices that will extend the terminal’s area by 20 percent, the company reported.
The expansion represents an investment of $10.3 million and is scheduled to begin during the second quarter of this year. The airport’s administrator expects work to be completed by the second quarter of 2017.
CORIPORT General Manager César Jaramillo said, “Liberia has grown as a tourist destination, and this reflects in the increase of routes and seats, as well as the arrival of new flights at the terminal.”
Jaramillo also confirmed that during the second half of this year the company will launch operations for a cargo terminal aimed at facilitating businesses for exporters and importers, mostly from the northwestern region of Costa Rica.
The Liberia airport last year received a total of 888,227 passengers – 98,352 more than in 2014. That figure represents an increase of 12.4 percent.
The terminal saw its busiest months in January, March and December. During each of those three months the airport facilitated the transit of more than 100,000 passengers.
Three airlines – two from the U.S. – launched operations in Liberia last year. SouthWest Airlines opened a route from Houston, and Alaska Airlines is now flying from Los Angeles. British carrier Thomson Airways also opened a direct flight from London.
