Last month at a press conference, Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado announced a plan to invest more than CRC 90 billion (about $157.3 million) to modernize airport infrastructure across the country with projects scheduled through 2020.
The program aims to strengthen the national and local economy by creating jobs and encouraging greater tourism. In a tweet, President Alvarado summarized the intent: “More investment, more tourism, more employment.”
According to Guillermo Hoppe, Director General of Civil Aviation, the upgrades focus on customer service, resource optimization, continuous improvement and innovation. The work will take place at four international airports — Juan Santamaría (SJO), Daniel Oduber (LIR), Tobías Bolaños (SYQ) and Limón (LIO) — as well as at eight local airfields: Palmar Sur (PMZ), Golfito (GLF), Pérez Zeledón (IPZ), Guápiles (GPL), Quepos (XQP), Tortuguero (TTQ), Coto 47 (OTR) and Puerto Jiménez (PJM).
At Juan Santamaría International Airport, the country’s primary gateway, planned improvements include upgrades to taxiways, enhancements to track-lighting systems and passenger boarding facilities, extension of the main runway head, and a westward expansion of the terminal building to improve capacity and passenger flow.
Tobías Bolaños International Airport is slated to receive a new air terminal and a comprehensive restructuring of the Alfa, Bravo and Charlie taxiways. The project also includes installation of a modern drinking water system, sewage and wastewater treatment facilities, a new electrical and data network, an upgraded fire-hydrant system and construction of a new general parking area to better serve passengers and operations.
Other airports in the program will see targeted improvements tailored to their size and role, such as runway repairs, apron and taxiway rehabilitation, lighting and signage upgrades, and enhancements to safety and emergency systems. Smaller airfields are expected to benefit from runway resurfacing, drainage improvements, and basic terminal or passenger-service upgrades that improve accessibility and reliability for regional travelers.
The investment is intended to support tourism growth by improving the travel experience, reducing delays and increasing operational resilience, which together should make Costa Rica more attractive to both international visitors and domestic travelers. By modernizing infrastructure across a range of airports, the government expects to foster regional development, expand connectivity between tourist destinations, and create direct and indirect employment opportunities in construction, airport operations and hospitality sectors.
Officials emphasize that the projects will be carried out with a focus on efficiency and long-term value, aiming to optimize existing resources and introduce technological and operational improvements that reduce maintenance costs and environmental impact over time. The timeline through 2020 prioritizes projects by urgency and potential economic impact, allowing authorities to address the busiest hubs first while progressing on upgrades at secondary and regional airfields.
Overall, the modernization effort represents a coordinated push to strengthen Costa Rica’s aviation infrastructure, support tourism-led economic recovery, and enhance passenger safety and service quality across the national airport network.