Since its expansion as an international airport in 1995, Guanacaste Airport, formerly known as Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport and Liberia International Airport, has been an essential foundation of Costa Rica’s growth as a world-renowned destination. Although smaller in size than its counterpart in Alajuela, the Juan Santamaría International Airport, Guanacaste’s own hub for international flights offers tourists a direct path towards some of the country’s most popular beach towns and most spectacular natural attractions.
As with virtually every airport in the world, Guanacaste Airport was struck heavily by the initial repercussions the Covid-19 pandemic had for international travel. As the world was at standstill, the tourism industry came to a screeching halt, but since vaccination worldwide became available things have been on the come up ever since. Not only have the numbers come back close to pre-pandemic levels, but airlines have recently expanded their operations in Costa Rica.
During the U.S. summer months of May, June and July, three American airlines will increase their flight options to Guanacaste in terms of schedule and flexibility. American Airlines will grow its Miami-Guanacaste daily flights from two to three, while the weekly Dallas-Guanacaste route is now officially a daily fixture. In the case of United Airlines, both their weekly Denver-Guanacaste and Newark-Guanacaste flights will double their numbers. Finally, budget option Jet Blue will provide four weekly flights to Liberia from New York’s JFK airport.
With the upwards trend in passenger arrivals in Guanacaste reaching pre-pandemic traffic levels, it is expected for more international lines to continue growing their operations as Costa Rica cements its place as one of the world’s favorite post-pandemic destinations.