Published on Thursday, April 30, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Porter Airlines will expand its nonstop service to Costa Rica beginning in December 2026, according to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).

The Canadian carrier will add four weekly flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Mississauga, Ontario, and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) located in Alajuela Province, aligning with peak demand ahead of the North American winter travel season.

Outbound flights will depart YYZ at noon local time every Tuesday through Friday, arriving in SJO at 7:35 a.m. local time. Return flights will leave Costa Rica at 9:45 a.m. and arrive in Toronto at 6:45 p.m., the airline said. All flights will be operated using an Embraer E195-E2 with a capacity of 132 passengers.

Additional booking details and schedule updates are available on Porter Airlines’ website.

Porter launched its first international service to Costa Rica in December 2025, marking the country as its inaugural destination in Central America.

The airline currently operates two routes connecting YYZ and Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) with Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Guanacaste.

The expansion comes as more international carriers increase service to Costa Rica. Air Transat recently announced plans to boost its nonstop flights between Canada and Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, Air Canada said it will increase service between Vancouver International Airport and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Guanacaste.

ICT data show continued growth in the Canadian market. Nearly 150,000 Canadian tourists arrived in Costa Rica by air in the first quarter of 2026, a 27.5% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

This week, Costa Rica was ramping up efforts to attract more Canadian visitors through its “Pura Vida” tourism campaign, with advertisements placed on public streetcar outlooks in major Canadian cities.

Costa Rica continues to receive international recognition as a travel destination. A recent report by the British Broadcasting Corporation ranked the country as the safest for solo female travelers.

Costa Rica also earned a Forbes Travel Award in the Best Nature Destination category, highlighting its biodiversity.

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

Costa Rica’s tourism sector continues to expand. In 2025, the country recorded more than 2.6 million air arrivals.

The ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting tourism.

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