Published on Monday, April 20, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Air Transat, a major carrier operating between Canada and Costa Rica, will increase its number of nonstop flights, according to the Tourism Institute (ICT).

Starting in December 2026, ahead of the North American winter travel season, the Quebec-based airline will add a new weekly flight between Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela province.

According to the airline, outbound flights will depart Quebec City at 11 p.m. local time and arrive in Costa Rica at 6:35 a.m. local time. Return flights will leave San José at 8:45 a.m. and arrive in Quebec City at 5:45 p.m. All flights will be operated on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 configured to seat 175 passengers.

The airline said additional details about the expanded service between Quebec City and San José will be released soon on its official website.

 

Tourism data from the ICT show that, as of February, Costa Rica had welcomed more than 100,000 Canadian visitors, a 26% increase compared with the same period last year.

Air Transat is one of several airlines announcing new routes to Costa Rica. Recently, Air Canada also reported an increase in its nonstop flights to the country.

In a related development, Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, also known as Guanacaste Airport (LIR), reported a 12% increase in passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2026.

Recently, Costa Rica ranks as the country where solo female travelers feel most secure, according to a report recently published by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the UK national broadcaster.

Costa Rica received a Forbes Travel Award in the Best Nature Destination category, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

The country was also ranked the happiest in the Americas in the 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report.

Costa Rica’s tourism sector continues to show strong growth.  In 2025, the country welcomed more than 2.6 million air arrivals.

The ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting Costa Rica’s tourism industry.

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