The Costa Rican government is planning to funnel CRC90 billion ($157.3 million) into airport infrastructure projects across the country over the next year.
Costa Rican president Carlos Alvarado announced the news at a press conference held at the Juan Santamaria Airport on Aug. 16, noting that four international airports and eight local airfields will receive upgrades.
The government is aiming to improve customer service, resource optimization, continuous improvement and innovation through the projects. “More investment, more tourism, more employment,” said Alvarado, when announcing the initiative on Twitter.
The projects include upgrading the Juan Santamaría International Airport, Daniel Oduber International Airport, Tobías Bolaños International Airport, and Limón International Airport, as well as the Palmar Sur, Golfito, Pérez Zeledón, Guápiles, Quepos, Tortuguero, Coto 47 and Puerto Jiménez airfields.
Juan Santamaría will receive upgrades to taxiways, track-lighting systems, passenger boarding areas, and see an extension of its head runway and western terminal, according to Travel Pulse.
Renovations at Daniel Oduber will include runway surface improvements, demarcation lines, security strips, and a possible expansion of part of the airport and surrounding infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Tobías Bolaños will receive a brand-new air terminal, undergo a restructuring of several taxiways, upgrades to its drinking water and waste water infrastructure, construction of a new parking area, and a new electricity and data network.
Finally, Limón will get a new, Caribbean-inspired terminal with a waiting area, government offices, fire protection, passenger flow system, and rainwater, sewage and wastewater treatment systems.
In addition to the Costa Rican government, the Civil Aviation Technical Council (CETAC) and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) will invest their own resources in the projects, along with private sector investors, such as airport operations administrator AERIS.
