Published on Friday, December 27, 2024
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Alaska Airlines, a leading U.S. carrier based in SeaTac, Washington, has launched two new nonstop flights connecting the United States to Costa Rica, further strengthening its international network.

The extra nonstop routes are now available between Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province and two major U.S. hubs, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

The new flight from Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) departs at 10 a.m. local time in Costa Rica, arriving in Seattle at 3 p.m. PST.

For travelers heading to Costa Rica, flights depart SEA at 10:30 p.m. PST, landing in Guanacaste at 7:30 a.m. local time.

The flight from Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) departs at 6:40 p.m. local time in Costa Rica, arriving in San Francisco at 11:40 p.m. PST.

For the return trip, flights depart from SFO at 9 a.m. PST, arriving in Guanacaste at 6 p.m. local time.

The new flights, operated on a Boeing 737, will accommodate up to 200 passengers per trip, offering a direct connection to the sunny, seaside destination of Guanacaste.

Additional details about flight schedules can be found on the Alaska Airlines website.

Alaska Airlines joins many international carriers expanding their service to Costa Rica. Recently, American Airlines launched a new nonstop route connecting Philadelphia International Airport with Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Guanacaste.

In November, the Guanacaste Airport stopped commercial operations for runway repairs.

Recently, the LIR airport announced an increase in tourist operations to 1.5 million arriving and departing passengers, including tourists and locals.

According to the Vinci group, the airport's management business headquartered in France, LIR is hosting 15 airlines operating flights to 23 international destinations.

Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in Costa Rica. As of July, over 1.7 million tourists arrived via air, representing a 13.5% increase over the same period in 2023.

The country reported a new tourism record reached in 2023, with more than 2,4 million travelers.

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