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Air Canada extends its operations in Costa Rica

 

  • Airline to fly to Guanacaste in September and October for the first time
  • Season length and number of flights to be expanded

The airline Air Canada announced that it was increasing its operations to Costa Rica by extending the 2019 season into September and October. The season, which is beginning this month, was initially to be put on hold for these two months and resumed in November and December. However, the company decided to fly from April to December without interruptions. During these two additional months, Air Canada will fly to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste for the first time.

This extension represents an increase of 36% in the number of seats over 2018, as follows:

  • An increase from 2,856 seats in 2018 to 4,008 in 2019 on the Toronto-Liberia route, including September and October, an increase of 1,152 seats.
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  • The Toronto-SJO route will increase from 7,319 to 12,690 seats, an increase of 5,371.
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Flights to Liberia will be done in an Airbus A321 with 137 seats every Tuesday (once per week) from April 30 to October 22, and four times per week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) from October 27 to December 17.

On the San José route, the frequency will be one Saturday flight from November 2 to December 14 with 282 seats and three times per week (Monday, Thursday and Saturday) from December 16 to December 28.

This increase is the result of the investment attraction strategy being implemented by ICT in coordination with the administering body in charge of Juan Santamaría, Aeris Holding Costa Rica, and with the administrator of Daniel Oduber, CORIPORT, to increase the number of flights to Costa Rica.

“We are very pleased to be able to announce this important move by Air Canada to strengthen its Costa Rica routes, especially in maintaining its operations during the months of September and October to both international airports, which will be a major stimulus to the tourism sector, especially that of the province of Guanacaste, with a significant increase in arrivals during September and October from Canada and connections”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo.

Over the course of 2018, Costa Rica recorded the arrival of 217,006 Canadians, 92% of whom came into the country by air, making it the main entry point into the country.

Canada represents 7% of the total arrivals to the country and 14% of arrivals from North America.  

The largest number of arrivals by Canadians occurs during the months of December to March during the North American country’s winter months.

In 2017, the Toronto-San José and Toronto-Liberia were the most frequently used routes to Costa Rica by Canadians.

During that year, 26.4% of Canadian tourists arriving to the country through Juan Santamaría International Airport said that they had visited Costa Rica previously.

The average stay in 2017 is estimated at 14 nights, with an estimated daily spending per person of US$109.84.

In terms of the favorite activities of Canadians, the most commonly mentioned were sun and beach activities, observation of flora and fauna, and hiking and visiting volcanoes, among others.