Published on Monday, June 8, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Texas-based Southwest Airlines announced a new route connecting Tennessee with Guanacaste province.

Beginning February 13, 2027, Southwest will operate Saturday-only nonstop flights between Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Daniel Oduber-Quiros International Airport (LIR) located in Liberia Canton.

According to the airline, flights will depart Nashville every Saturday at 9:35 a.m. (CT), arriving in Costa Rica at 1:35 p.m. local time.

The return service will depart LIR at 3:35 p.m. local time and arrive in Nashville at 7:30 p.m. (CT). Both flights will be operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, configured to seat 175 passengers.

Southwest launched service to Costa Rica in 2015. The carrier said more details about the new Tennessee–Guanacaste route will be available soon on its official website.

This is the second route Southwest operates between Nashville and Costa Rica. The airline launched its first route between Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in March 2026.

  

The move comes as more airlines expand service to Costa Rica. Recently, Germany’s flagship carrier, Lufthansa, announced plans to increase nonstop flights to Costa Rica.

In related developments, LIR airport recently announced that it had processed more than 1,400 pets during the first quarter of 2026.

Tourism remains one of Costa Rica’s strongest industries. Data from the Tourism Institute shows that more than 1 million tourists arrived in Costa Rica by air during the first quarter of 2026.

In 2025, the country welcomed more than 2.6 million tourists arriving by air.

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