German airline Tourism Union International, known as TUI, has launched a new nonstop flight between the U.S. State of Illinois and Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province, according to the Tourism Institute, known as ICT.

Beginning in February 2027, the Hanover-based airline will operate nonstop flights every Friday between Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) and Daniel Oduber-Quirós International Airport (LIR), also known as Guanacaste Airport.

The charter flights will be operated using a Boeing 737-800NG aircraft configured to accommodate 189 passengers.

TUI said additional details about the new Illinois-Guanacaste route will be available soon on its official website.

The move comes as more airlines expand service to Costa Rica. Recently, Southwest Airlines, based in Texas, announced a new nonstop route connecting Austin with Costa Rica.

In related developments, Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast cruise season began this week, with more than 70 cruise ships expected to call at the country’s three main Pacific ports.

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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