Published on Wednesday, July 22, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Southwest Airlines, based in the U.S. State of Texas, has announced a new nonstop route connecting Austin City with Costa Rica.

Beginning in March 2027, the airline will operate Saturday-only nonstop flights between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela Province.

According to Southwest, flights will depart Austin every Saturday at 10:35 a.m. CT and arrive in Alajuela at 2:15 p.m. local time.

The return flight will depart SJO at 5:20 p.m. local time and arrive in Austin at 10:30 p.m. CT. Both flights will be operated using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft configured to accommodate 175 passengers.

Southwest first launched service to Costa Rica in 2015. The airline said additional details about the new Austin–Alajuela route will be available soon on its official website.

The new service is part of Southwest's continued expansion in Costa Rica. The airline recently announced its first route connecting the U.S. State of Tennessee with Guanacaste Province.

Tourism remains one of Costa Rica's strongest economic sectors. The country received more than 1.6 million visitors arriving by air during the first half of 2026, according to the Tourism Institute (ICT), underscoring the continued growth of the nation's tourism industry.

  

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

The tourism sector has also reached a significant economic milestone. Costa Rica generated more than $2 billion in tourism revenue during the first quarter of 2026, marking the first time the country has exceeded that benchmark.

Meanwhile, Juan Santamaría International Airport, the country's busiest international airport, announced the installation of automated border control systems, known as eGates.

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

------------
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