Airport officials reported a considerable rise in private flights, with 1,300 recorded in 2022, and a notable milestone earlier this year when the airport welcomed its first flight from Australia to Costa Rica in February. The airport’s expansion involves the renovation of an existing hangar within the terminal area. GA Flight Support, a private jet ground handling company with five years of experience, is partnering with Coriport to begin the development in the upcoming months, with completion expected in 2024. Services provided by the new terminal will include refueling, aircraft cleaning, personalized attention for passengers and crew members, and transportation to the hotel, among others.

Further development is also planned for LIR, the country’s second-largest airport as part of the government’s Plan Nacional de Desarrollo (National Development Plan), which is projected to require a $105 million investment. The national budget will finance the expansion, Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT), and external financing funds from the Civil Aviation Technical Council. The three-year project includes the construction of a taxiway to increase the airport’s capacity, enabling flights outside the current restrictions of 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.

The Guanacaste Airport is already a hub for international travel, with 15 airlines operating in the terminal and flying to 23 destinations. In 2022, the airport welcomed over 1.4 million passengers, surpassing the benchmark year of 2019. The expansion is a crucial step towards accommodating the growing demand for air accessibility, boosting the financial viability of significant hotel investments and various small businesses in the region.