Published on Saturday, October 3, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Breeze Airways inaugurated its first nonstop flight between the United States and Costa Rica on Saturday, launching new international service between Tampa, Florida and Costa Rica.

According to the airline, the inaugural flight from Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) located in Alajuela Province, arrived at 7:45 a.m. Saturday with 100 passengers.

“With Breeze’s premium product offering and affordable fares, we know our guests in Tampa will love this new and convenient international service,” said David Neeleman, founder and CEO of Breeze Airways.

Travelers can now book nonstop flights between Tampa and San José on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The service operates on an Airbus A220-300 aircraft with capacity for 137 passengers.

Breeze said the service includes premium options such as free family seating, fast onboard Wi-Fi, preferred seat options, and no change or cancellation fees.

The flight departs Tampa at 6:40 a.m. ET and arrives in Alajuela at 7:55 a.m. local time. The return flight departs SJO at 8:55 a.m. local time and arrives in Tampa at 11:05 a.m. ET.


More information about Breeze Airways and flight bookings is available at flybreeze.com.

The new Breeze service comes as other airlines expand their connections to Costa Rica. German airline Tourism Union International, known as TUI, has launched a new nonstop flight between Illinois and Guanacaste Province, according to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, known as ICT.

Recently, Southwest Airlines, based in Texas, announced a new nonstop route connecting Austin with Costa Rica.

Tourism remains one of Costa Rica’s most important economic sectors. More than 1.6 million travelers arrived in the country by air during the first half of 2026, underscoring the industry’s continued role as a major contributor to the national economy.

In 2025, Costa Rica welcomed more than 2.6 million air travelers.

  

  

The tourism industry also reached a significant economic milestone during the first quarter of 2026, generating more than $2 billion in tourism revenue for the first time in the country’s history.

The ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting Costa Rica as a tourism destination and supporting the country’s tourism industry.

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Which airline would you like to see add more flights to Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com