Published on Thursday, April 9, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Air Canada is increasing nonstop flights to Costa Rica, the Tourism Institute announced Thursday.

Beginning in December 2026, the Quebec-based carrier will add two new weekly flights. The additional service will operate every Monday and Thursday between Vancouver International Airport (YVR), located on Sea Island, and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in  Guanacaste province.

According to the airline, outbound flights will depart Vancouver at midnight local time and arrive in Costa Rica at 7:35 a.m. local time.

 

Return flights will leave LIR at 9 a.m. local time and arrive in YVR at 4:35 p.m. local time. All flights will be operated using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 configured to seat 177 passengers.

Air Canada said additional details about the expanded YVR-LIR service will be released soon on its official website.

Tourism data from the ICT shows that, as of February, Costa Rica had welcomed more than 100,000 Canadian visitors, marking a 26% increase.

In 2025, more than 2.6 million tourists arrived in Costa Rica by air.

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

In related developments, Costa Rica recently received a Forbes Travel Award in the Best Nature Destination category, reflecting 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.

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

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