Plans to develop  Costa Rica’s new international airport are currently being considered. According to business daily La Republica, the new airport should begin operations in the year 2026. On that same year, the management contract now held by Aeris Holdings over the Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela will come to an end.

A New Location

Preliminary studies by civil aviation authorities point Coyolar de Orotina, in the Alajuela province, as the ideal location for our next international airport. This is the precise spot where Route 27 from San Jose ends, and the Ruta Costanera (known as San Jose – Caldera) begins. One can already see tourists being shuttled out of the new airport directly to the Central Pacific beaches upon landing.

In addition to being close to a major traffic artery, railroad tracks are already in place at Coyolar and could be put to use with a new passenger train route connecting our capital city to the airport.

The elevation of Coyolar is ideal for an airport, as it is nearly at sea level. Aviation engineers are carefully evaluating the environmental impact. Air quality in the Central Valley has improved thanks to emission controls and reforestation efforts, but that trend is expected to reverse soon, given the growing thirst for fossil fuels among Ticos. Increased air traffic over the Central Valley is also a concern.

Other impact studies will include the nesting and migratory patterns of birds in the area. It is estimated that 500 people in Coyolar will be forced to relocate, and the future airport authority is negotiating with the municipality to stop new residents from settling or squatting on the 800 hectares of land reserved for the project.

Moving Existing Operations Around

Once the project is completed, the operations of the Tobias Bolanos International Airport -the current home of domestic airline Nature Air– could be transferred to the Juan Santamaria Airport. This means that chartered jets for business executives, flight lessons and private helicopter charters will enjoy better facilities, although they will be located farther away from San Jose.

There are no plans for the Tobias Bolanos airport at this time.