Expect to fly to/from SJO?
Costa Rica has two international airports that regularly receive commercial service: Juan Santamaría International Airport near San José, and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia.
If you’re taking a repatriation flight, expect to fly to/from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). The Health Ministry has required that repatriation flights operate from that airport to help ensure sanitary measures are met.
More regular commercial service to Costa Rica could resume in late June, including to Liberia International Airport, but airlines may push back those dates — especially if Costa Rica further extends its border restrictions.
Until June 15, and potentially beyond, the following measures apply at Costa Rica’s borders:
- The only people who can enter the country are: Costa Rican citizens, Costa Rican residents who departed Costa Rica prior to March 24 at 11:59 p.m., those whose residency is in process who departed Costa Rica prior to March 24, minor children of Costa Rican citizens, and foreign diplomats.
- Citizens and residents who arrive in Costa Rica will be assigned a mandatory 14-day home isolation order. All will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 at the airport.
Given the extremely limited number of flights operating to/from Costa Rica at the moment, you shouldn’t anticipate big crowds at the airport.
A Tico Times reader who took a repatriation flight this week told us only one gate at SJO was in use, and most restaurants and shops were closed. The airport says it has installed markers to help passengers remain socially distant while queueing.
That doesn’t necessarily mean your flight will be empty, however. A repatriation flight this week from Spain to Costa Rica carried 290 passengers, and the U.S. Embassy says flights from Costa Rica to North America routinely sell out.
Many airlines now require passengers to wear masks, and United Airlines — which has operated recent flights between Costa Rica and the U.S. — will soon inform passengers if their flight is more than 70% full.
