Good news for British and European travelers awaiting the new flights by Thomson Airways and First Choice to Costa Rica. According to online travel news site TravelMole.com, Thomson will soon receive four new and shiny Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which will be used for long haul flights to select destinations, including the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica.

Located in the province of Alajuela, SJO serves the Greater San Jose Metropolitan Area (Spanish initials: GAM), and it is the most suitable airport for the new Thomson Dreamliners to land. TravelMole.com notes that:

The new, longer 787-9 aircraft will allow Thomson Airways to take more holidaymakers to these destinations with a capacity of 345, including 63 Premium Club seats, 16 more Premium seats than in the 787-8.

A recent media announcement by Thomson indicated that:

Thomson and First Choice are pleased to announce that summer 2016 will see 24 new routes from regional airports, the addition of further weekly flights on existing routes and the return of Cuba to the programme as well as direct, non-stop flights to Costa Rica for the summer.

The first Dreamliner flights from London Stansted to Cancun, Mexico and Sanford airport, Orlando commencing in May 2016.

London Gatwick sees the introduction of a new summer flight to Costa Rica – the only direct, non-stop flight from the UK, plus the return of Cuba, back by popular demand.

As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, the United Kingdom is a very attractive market for our country. Last year, the NationalTourism Board of Costa Rica was in the UK for the 2014 World Travel Market, and it really made an effort to leave a good impression among expo attendants:

With spa vacations and delicious traditional cuisine, officials from the National Tourism Board of Costa Rica (Spanish initials ICT) are currently in London along with 32 tour operators and hoteliers for the 2014 World Travel Market. In preparation for this event, the ICT contacted 25 important tourism business entities in the United Kingdom and key European markets for the purpose of making our country more attractive to our jolly old friends from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

 

The United Kingdom is the fourth major tourism segment in Costa Rica. Our jolly old friends from the UK stay an average of two weeks in Costa Rica, and spend about 59 pounds sterling (about $94) per day. On average, UK tourists visit Costa Rica with the intention of getting to know the natural treasures of our country. They also enjoy quiet and relaxing spa treatments and are enthusiastic about tasting local cuisine. To this end, the ICT sent two chefs to London as well as a master chocolatier who will show expo attendants how to make hot chocolate according to the Bribri indigenous recipe of making an infusion of cacao beans and sugar cane.