AERIS was one of the platinum sponsors of IATA Aviation Day Costa Rica

Costa Rica was the destination of a prestigious international event about the future of aviation.

• In its return after four years, Aviation Day Costa Rica convened ministers, aeronautical authorities, embassy representatives, airlines, among others.
• Challenges and opportunities to reach the country’s aviation potential, as well as the importance of the industry for the development of the region were some of the topics discussed at the forum.

September, 2023. After several years of absence, this Tuesday, September 19, Costa Rica once again hosted the IATA Aviation Day, an event that brings together the main executives of the airport and tourism industry, as well as public sector leaders and international experts to interact about the challenges and opportunities of aviation.

“These events are held with the objective of creating a framework for meeting and constructive dialogue to agree on actions that allow the aviation industry to continue to be for Costa Rica, and Central America in general, a strategic partner of social connection and an engine of development,” said David Hernandez, manager Central America, Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

IATA, as organizer of Aviation Day, was in charge of welcoming and closing the forum, through Peter Cerdá, its Regional Vice President for the Americas, and David Hernández, its manager for Central America, Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela.

In front of more than 300 guests, different blocks of conversation focused on the status and potential of a key industry such as aviation, which before the pandemic contributed 155,000 direct and indirect jobs and 9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country.

Ricardo Hernández, executive director of AERIS, manager of Juan Santamaría International Airport and one of the platinum sponsors of Aviation Day, said: “We are pleased that Juan Santamaría International Airport has become an example of the reactivation of the sector. This shows that our mission to exceed the expectations of the Stakeholder Management Contract has constantly led us to ask ourselves what more we can do to contribute to the country’s competitiveness, and these types of forums are relevant to find those answers.”

High standards forum. At around 9:30 am, the first forum entitled: ‘Challenges and priorities for air transportation in Costa Rica’ began, with the participation of Luis Amador, Minister of Public Works and Transportation, and William Rodriguez, Minister of Tourism, among others.

The event continued with topics such as ‘Air connectivity and competitiveness for the development of Central America’, as well as ‘Tourism and aviation: development enhancers in the countries’.

There was also a space called ‘Effective regulation to promote aviation in Costa Rica’, in which Fernando Naranjo, director of Civil Aviation, intervened.

One of the main features of the Aviation Days are the notable panelists participating. Among the international speakers who covered these contents were:

• Adolfo Aragon, Senior Vice President of Universal Weather & Aviation Inc.
• Alicia Lines, Regional Director of Distribution, IATA
• Carlos Granados, general manager of United Airlines
• Dionisio Pérez-Jácome, Vice President, Corporate Development and Sustainability, Volaris
• Eva Felicia Martinez, Ambassador of Spain in Costa Rica
• Francisco Lima-Mena, SIECA Secretary General
• Frederico Pedreira, Deputy CEO, Avianca
• Gustavo Santos, Regional Director, Regional Department for the Americas UNWTO
• Marcela Toriello, Chairman of the Board and CEO TAG Airlines
• Marina Colunga, Iberia’s Commercial Director for Latin America
• Nicholas Reyes, Western Hemisphere Director, Federal Aviation Administration Office of International Affairs
• Roberto Echandi, Investment Policy Leader World Bank
• Ronny Rodríguez, Director of Corporate Development, Volaris
• Viviana Martin, Global Director of Government Relations Avianca

The culmination of the meeting corresponded to a panel called: ‘Operational needs to enhance aviation in Costa Rica’, where the next steps of the industry were presented by Ricardo Hernandez; Camilo Martelo, director of International Airports of Spirit Airlines; Juan Carlos Trabanino, executive director of COCESNA; Cesar Jaramillo, CEO of Coriport and Uriel Torres, director of SITA for Mexico, Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean.

Connection with sustainability.  Also within the framework of this event, on September 18, the first Sustainability Meeting was held to evaluate the challenges and opportunities that will enable Costa Rica to become a sustainable tourism destination, and how the travel and tourism sector can contribute to this goal.

Adriana Bejarano, head of Environment, Health and Safety of AERIS participated in the forum on behalf of the AIJS manager, together with specialists from the Airports Council International, IATA, DGAC, among others.

“Airport sustainability is the path we have set for ourselves to operate Juan Santamaría International Airport. We are convinced that the social, environmental and economic action we have taken has already been transcendental, but we want to continue generating a positive impact on our communities, which is why this type of space is essential to achieve this goal,” said Bejarano.

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.

• Safety Management System verifies the veracity of reports received on issues such as unsafe driving and abandoned or unattended equipment.

September, 2023. The Operational Safety and Operations teams of AERIS are constantly dedicated to supervise, monitor and resolve potential risks at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), but did you know that you can collaborate in guaranteeing the continuity of the normal operation of the country’s main air terminal?

“To enhance the participation of citizens in ensuring PURA VIDA experiences, if a person identifies any potential problem for the air side of AIJS, such as runway, apron, taxiways, among others, you can notify the Operational Safety Management System (SMS) team through the communication channels enabled,” said Ricardo Hernandez, executive director of AERIS, manager of AIJS.

The form can be found at sjoairport.com/aeris/contact us/, openly or anonymously; it should include as many precise details as possible, such as time, place, persons involved, aircraft or equipment registration number. If more information is needed, the managers will request it at the time of the investigation.

These reports are treated with confidentiality by the SMS team, with the purpose of identifying and applying corrective, preventive and mitigating measures. Once received, they follow a staged and thorough process to verify the accuracy of the information submitted.

For example, cameras and frequency recordings are used to validate the accuracy of the reports. Then, if required, a site visit or extraordinary inspection is conducted to mitigate the identified hazard.

Cause of reports. The main issues driving the reports are identified as risky driving, poor communication, and abandoned/unattended/mis-parked equipment.

“It is critical to address these reports if true, as they have a direct impact on the passenger experience. For example, risky driving can cause dangerous situations in transit areas, increasing the risk to users; or poor communication, which can cause confusion and delays, affecting flight punctuality and inconveniencing passengers,” explained Virginia Valverde, AERIS Security and Crisis Management Supervisor.

Meanwhile, abandoned or improperly parked equipment can obstruct critical areas and cause service delays.

The work of the SMS. The tasks of this department involve ensuring the effective and risk-free running of processes that, even in some cases, may go unnoticed by the average passenger, but which are fundamental.

For example, on boarding a flight, in addition to checking identity documents and possible prohibited items, there is a seat assignment to balance the load on the aircraft and consideration of passengers with special needs, while coordinating with the cabin crew and on the tarmac to ensure an orderly and safe flow of passengers.

“While passengers simply hand over their baggage, there is rigorous planning behind how it is stored in the cargo hold to ensure that the weight and distribution does not compromise the stability of the aircraft, that hazardous or prohibited items are not carried, etc. It involves the design of safe loading procedures, training of ground personnel and security measures to prevent incidents,” added Valverde.

Actions also include on-site inspections and supervisions to assess the risk exposure of companies operating on the airside; in particular for those related to ground handling, a risk index is created.

In line with its commitment to continuous improvement, the SMS team provides specialized safety training to both internal AERIS staff and members of the airport community at large.

In addition, various coordinating committees between the various entities that provide services at AIJS (such as the Safety and Facilitation Committee and the Operational Safety Committee) and internal AERIS committees (such as the Safety Action Group) meet in order to provide quality service to users.

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.

• Airports Council International awarded level 3 of the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Costumer Experience accreditation to Costa Rica’s main air terminal.

September, 2023. The Airports Council International (ACI) recognized Juan Santamaría Airport with level 3 of the Costumer Experience accreditation; the international organization granted this certification thanks to the quality of the passenger travel experience.

By achieving level 3 of the Costumer Experience accreditation, ACI recognizes the commitment of the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS) to improve the passenger travel experience. It is a distinction to the airport’s collaborators for providing passengers with a memorable experience.

“At Juan Santamaría International Airport we are committed to the PURA VIDA experience, we work for a pleasant transit for passengers. Good amenities, excellence in customer service and constant improvement are commitments we work on every day and are recognized with this certification,” said Ricardo Hernandez, executive director of AERIS.

This accreditation developed by ACI is part of its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program, and is structured on specific goals and objectives that differentiate it from any other award in the area of customer satisfaction. There are five levels of accreditation, and airports are accredited and move up to the next level based on their compliance in eight practices:

• Customer Understanding
• Strategy
• Measurement
• Operational improvement
• Governance
• Airport culture
• Service design / innovation
• Airport community collaboration.

“Level 2 means that the airport is promoting a clear customer experience strategy, and consists of 31 specific requirements. To be considered at level 3, it implies that ACI assesses that the airport has already implemented an advanced customer experience strategy, increasing to 47 the requirements we had to meet,” Hernandez explained.

How was level 3 achieved? AERIS summarizes the achievement of this milestone in five reasons as provided by the ACI when granting the accreditation:

• Reinforcement of the SJO brand “Your Gateway to Pure Life Experience”.

In 2022, “Your Pura Vida Experience Gateway” was implemented, which aims to highlight that AIJS is the gateway to the pura vida experiences offered by the country and that passengers can experience from their passage through the terminal.

• Involvement of the airport community through workshops, training and the Excellence Program.

The Excellence Program aims to integrate and recognize the participation of AIJS commercial subcontractors in an annual program of excellence in the integral management of their business, focused on the three dimensions of sustainability. Its results are notorious, for example, in 2022, 45% of the subcontractors enrolled in the initiative carried out social impact activities in communities near the airport.

It also involves the involvement of public entities and airlines, which have actively participated in improving the passenger experience by supporting the identification and implementation of improvements in airport processes.

• Implementation of service methodology in projects.

Service Design is the methodology used to develop projects with the objective of generating solutions in accordance with the needs and expectations of customers. AERIS has begun to apply it in a project that seeks to streamline, reduce processing times and facilitate processes in general, through the placement of ramps before the x-ray machines.

• Employee training.

The airport community has shown great commitment to improving the AIJS customer experience. Therefore, a series of workshops and trainings have been developed with the collaborators of the different companies and entities that work at the airport, where the participants identify opportunities for improvement and pain points for specific steps of the passenger’s journey through the airport. To date, there have been 30 sessions with the participation of more than 300 employees.

• Strengthening the voice of the customer in the SJO community and more passenger data information.

One of the main tools is ACI’s ASQ survey, which is applied monthly in boarding lounges, and allows us to know the passenger’s perception of the airport’s services and facilities. The quarterly results of this survey are shared with the companies and entities that work at AIJS.

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.

First semester reported the highest passenger traffic in the management of AERIS at Juan Santamaría International Airport.

• From January 1 to June 30, 2023, between inbound and outbound, 2,878,884 passengers transited through the country’s main air terminal.

 August, 2023. In the 14 years of AERIS, as the interested manager of Juan Santamaría International Airport, the most successful first semester in terms of the number of passengers (contemplates inbound and outbound) has been 2023, with 2,878,884 passengers, representing an increase of 5.3% versus 2019 and 23.1% versus 2022.

“These excellent results of the first half of the year are a reflection of the excellent management that the country has made as a destination of multiple experiences, mainly through the ICT, but also of all the State institutions that support airport management.  In AERIS, as managers of the Juan Santamaria International Airport and the main gateway in and out of the country we will continue to support this growth management and making AIJS the gateway to Costa Rica’s PURA VIDA experiences,” said Ricardo Hernandez, executive director of AERIS.

The connectivity that AIJS has is the main work that both AERIS and the ICT with the support of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has allowed both international tourists to travel to Costa Rica more easily, as well as Costa Ricans to travel to the destinations of their choice.

“To date, AIJS is served by 25 airlines reaching 35 destinations, thus facilitating connectivity to the world.  For this second semester, and with the objective of continuing to strengthen our relationships with airlines, expand the supply of destinations and frequencies, we will participate in various industry events and meetings with them,” said Erick Barboza, director of Business Development of AERIS.

Passenger profile. This connectivity and selection of destinations to offer is largely due to the knowledge of the preferences, needs and general profile of those who travel through the AIJS.

In the analysis conducted by AERIS, post-pandemic, an increase of travelers of the millennial generation (42%) and generation X (30%) has been observed, with increases of 6% and 3% respectively compared to 2019.

Likewise, the arrival of passengers from North America continues, whose main reason for visiting the country is for vacation purposes (71%), with a predominance of passengers seeking sun and beach, adventure, cultural and ecological tourism; a behavior that is repeated in passengers from Europe and other regions.

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.

The use of self-check-in booths at Juan Santamaría Airport grew by 45.7%.

• Some 365,949 transactions have been completed this way in the first half of the year.
• Juan Santamaría International Airport currently has 30 self-check-in booths with the objective of speeding up the time of different transactions.

August, 2023. There are 365,949 transactions completed at the self-check-in kiosks at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), a considerable increase of 45.7% if one considers the same first semester, but in 2022, when at that time the figure was 251,188, informed AERIS, the interested manager of AIJS.

“As a leading airport in the region, we aim for digital innovation at the airport, agile both in response times and in the solutions we provide to users. When we say that AIJS is the gateway to pure life experiences, it is precisely because of practical examples such as our self-check-in kiosks, which of course contribute to the country’s competitiveness, but, above all, make the passenger experience more pleasant,” said Ricardo Hernandez, executive director of AERIS.

AIJS, aimed at becoming a digital airport, currently has 30 self-check-in stations, which allow passengers to scan their airline ticket and check in with the airline in less than 3 minutes.

In addition, thanks to the articulated work between AERIS, with about 10 institutions and the airlines that fly to and from the main air terminal of Costa Rica, it is anticipated that in the coming months will be announced the inclusion of new posts of this innovation.

“We are pleased to learn that more and more passengers are identifying and becoming familiar with the self-check-in stations as facilitators of their procedures. We are convinced that it is by working closely with the airport community that we will continue to apply innovation for the benefit of our users,” said Juan Belliard, Director of Operations and Security at AIJS.

How to use the booths? For those who wish to use any of these booths, they must first validate with the airline for their flight whether it has the option of using these counters.

If so, you must have your passport handy and memorize, or write down, your six-digit reservation number.

Once you go to one of the kiosks, the first thing the system will ask you to do is to dial the airline you will be traveling with; both in Spanish and English, a message will appear explaining the requirements to use this system, for example, if you are leaving the country, it reminds you that you must first make sure you have paid the corresponding departure tax at the terminal in case this cost was not included in your ticket.

Then, you must enter the reservation number (indicated above). After providing this information, your data will be displayed, which you are advised to read carefully to ensure that they are correct.

A series of options will appear, such as print tickets, change seat (if available) and check baggage, for you to select the ones you need.

Next, you must enter your passport into the machine’s slot. The system will print your tickets and baggage ticket.

Once the procedure is completed, you can go to the airline counter to drop off your luggage. You should consider that, depending on the destination, other revisions, such as the visa, will be requested at the counter.

If you are using these kiosks for the first time, or if you need help or have any inconvenience, there are staff available to assist you.

“Another extremely useful possibility is the web check-in, which on the one hand serves to confirm to the airline, as its name implies, on the airline’s website, that you are indeed going to fly. On the other hand, they work to confirm in advance the passenger’s data, their seat and obtain their boarding pass,” Belliard added.

 

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.

Sustainability Report 2022

Investments in works at the Juan Santamaría Airport already exceed $218 million.

• In 2022 alone, investments exceeded $7.6 million, including the inauguration of the new commercial building.
• 182.8 million were invested by the manager and the State in infrastructure from 2010 to 2021.

July, 2023. In the framework of the presentation of its fourth Sustainability Report, AERIS, the interested manager of the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), reported that in its 13 years as administrator of Costa Rica’s main air terminal, it has invested $218 million in infrastructure development.

“Every year, AERIS carries out the modernization, improvement, replacement and expansion of AIJS infrastructure, facilities and installations, not only meeting, but exceeding what is established in the Master Plan, which is the airport’s main planning instrument. Between 2010 and 2022 this figure is reported, but in addition to infrastructure, AERIS is the guarantor of compliance with the Interested Management Contract and the objectives established therein,” mentioned Ricardo Hernandez, executive director of AERIS.

Among the investments made during 2022, the trace detection equipment for passenger and employee screening ($601 thousand), infrastructure development for a new VIP on the third level of Block A and V ($1.3 million) and the new commercial building ($5.8 million), for a total of $7.7 million, stand out.

The new commercial building has 1,350m2, and is located in the International Departures area, immediately after the Migration sector and security filters. It is divided into two levels: the lower area has an operational support sector and another for the commercial building collaborators, with facilities such as kitchen, staff lockers, meeting rooms, restrooms and cleaning services, offices and a lactation room. The upper area houses the dining area, which can comfortably seat up to 240 people.

Below are some of the investments highlighted in the AIJS from 2010 to 2022:

Project	Year of operation
New Rescue and Fire Fighting Station (SEI) South of AIJS	2021
South Parallel Rolling Road (east circuit)	2019
New track lighting system	2018
Expansion of boarding lounges to the west (Block V), with two telescopic bridges and two aircraft parking positions, one to serve wide-body aircraft. It also includes a third level for the development of a VIP lounge.	2018
New Domestic Terminal	2018
Operations Communication Center (AOCC), operations offices at the Terminal and technological equipment	2017-2018
Construction of the Domestic Ramp with 12 parking positions for aircraft.	2017
Remote Ramp Expansion (6 Key C positions) and new canine unit	2016
Construction of boarding lounges to the east (Block G), with two telescopic bridges and two parking positions for wide-body aircraft. Expansion and remodeling of the halls in Block F is also being carried out.	2015
Sterile corridors, as recommended by ICAO, for separation of incoming and outgoing passenger flows	2012
Completion of the East Terminal building	2010
Boarding lounges blocks C, D and E, three boarding bridges and their respective parking positions for key C aircraft.	2010

“Comprehensive sustainability in the operation of the airport is the path we have set for ourselves to operate the Juan Santamaría International Airport, while maintaining our commitment to provide a pure travel experience for people transiting through the main gateway to the country,” added Hernández.

Economic axis. In other aspects shared within the economic axis, it stands out that the total contributions to the State in 2022 were for $51.3 million, which adds up to a total of $501.1 million that have been provided to the State during the management of AERIS.

Other figures:

• Total AIJS revenues of: ¢68,243 billion ($113.4 million).
• Total AERIS revenues of: ¢38,331 billion ($63.7 million).
• 90% of passenger traffic reported pre-pandemic.
• A total of 36 destinations around the world, through the operation of 25 airlines.
• 88% of suppliers (581) are local.

Environmental focus. The rainwater reuse project was initiated in the Domestic Terminal, through which 1077 m3 of rainwater was reused. In this project, rainwater is collected in a tank and then pumped into the pipeline for use and reuse in the Terminal’s sanitary services.

Other figures:

• Cumulative project savings of 263,375.3 kWh, representing a 1.7% reduction in consumption as part of the ISO 50001 Energy Management System.
• 76 kg of waste recycled.
• 65 species monitored, including domestic and wild species, with a total of 14,539 individuals observed.

Social focus. Last year, 5,916 textbooks were donated to four schools with 1,768 students benefited, as part of the alliance with Libros para Todos and through the placement of piggy banks at the Terminal.

Some additional donations, campaigns and sponsorships made in 2022 were: donation of advertising space for the Zooave, donation for Christmas party to the Restored Childhood Foundation and sponsorship of congresses and events of CRECEX, CANATUR, among others.

Other figures:

• 206 collaborators and 32 new hires.
• Zero lost-time accidents.
• 3 environmental recovery volunteer programs.
• 13,281 hours of training given to employees.
• 10 people received scholarships to study.

All these sustainability actions, as well as the relationship with stakeholders, are guided by policies that respond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“With the support of Grupo CCR, our majority shareholder, we have charted a path with actions that add value in environmental, social and economic aspects, and constantly, from the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) department, we review and monitor the operation in a sustained manner, in order to find the balance between economic development while reducing impacts,” explained Adriana Bejarano, head of Environment, Health and Safety at AERIS.

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.

June, 2023. AERIS, interested manager of the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), is honored to share that, on the occasion of the Environment Month and thanks to the support of the AERIS People, we collected 690 kg. of waste in Playa Azul.

“In AERIS, as a responsible company that shares the philosophy of its parent company CCR Group, we firmly believe that we have a responsibility to the development of the country beyond carrying out a sustainable airport operation. Proof of this is the commitment of the AERIS People year after year with the protection of the environment and the improvement, as far as possible, of different communities”, said Ricardo Hernández, general director of AERIS.

The activity counted with the participation of 21 volunteers, who last June 23, from 8:00am am to 12:00 pm were present at Playa Azul at the mouth of the Tárcoles River, with a tour along the site in search of identifying and collecting waste, in order to collaborate with its cleanliness.

Since 2013, volunteer activities have been carried out during working days, mostly related to environmental issues. Also, during 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic, AERIS maintained its environmental conservation actions.

Likewise, in the previous year, three volunteering activities related to environmental issues were carried out.

“This is not a novelty, but a continuity of the commitment of our AERIS People. In 2022 we had the Temporary Bee Shelter initiative, in which a group of 20 volunteers participated and planted 160 plants in what will be the temporary shelter for the bees that are rescued at the airport; 23 people from the airport community collected 290 kg. of garbage in the streets and a river through an Environmental Walk; also the Volunteering project in Finca Los Lotes, where 26 people participated in the maintenance of reforested species in the ‘Bosque de la Juventud’, explained Adriana Bejarano, head of Environment, Health and Safety of AERIS.

• AERIS and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) join in calling on the population to take the appropriate care in this practice to avoid jeopardizing the safety of an airport.
• Interest in these devices is evidenced by the fact that since the implementation of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in 2017, 532 people are reported to have obtained their license to pilot them.

June, 2023. With the increasing popularity of drone use in Costa Rica, AERIS, the interested manager of Juan Santamaria International Airport (AIJS), and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) joined forces in an information campaign for owners in search of avoiding any incidents at Costa Rica’s main air terminal.

“Part of being a responsible manager is to carry out preventive, informative and awareness-raising work; Although we are proud to guarantee that, largely due to the good work of our AERIS people, no incident has been reported with a drone that has had implications against operational safety, we are aware of the popularity that these devices have gained and that the flight of one near the air terminal can cause delays or cancellations of flights, even accidents if they are not attended with precision,” said Ricardo Hernandez, general director of AERIS.

And the fact is that since the Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) regulations began in 2017, to date 532 people are reported to be licensed to pilot them.

Among the restrictions that these have to fly a drone in the vicinity of an airport, it stands out that it is forbidden to operate one within a radius of 8 km around an aerodrome, as well as it is not allowed to fly above 400 feet (120 meters) above ground level in uncontrolled airspace; this to avoid that it may constitute an obstacle to another aircraft approaching or leaving a landing area or runway.

To fly drones near an airport, exceptions can only be granted to companies certified by the DGAC, and a previous coordination must be made in which this Directorate analyzes each particular case before issuing the corresponding permit.

“The DGAC has published since 2015 the Aeronautical Circular AIC (CC 06 15) on Restrictions and Limitations for the Operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, in which it provides accurate and updated information on the requirements, restricted areas and operating procedures to be followed with the aim of ensuring the safety of operations and reducing the risk of any interference with manned aircraft.  By facilitating access to the Aeronautical Circular, we seek to promote awareness and responsibility among all stakeholders,” shared Fernando Naranjo, Director General of Civil Aviation.

• Other operating prohibitions to be considered by every drone holder are:
• In a prohibited, restricted zone (published in Costa Rica’s AIP).
• In controlled airspace
• Close enough to another aircraft, so that it may constitute a collision hazard.
• Agglomerated areas of buildings in cities, towns or inhabited places, outdoor gatherings of people in uncontrolled airspace.

In addition, aerial activities with unmanned aircraft may be conducted only by day and in visual meteorological conditions; the conduct of night flights is subject to the approval and conditions of the DGAC.

If these rules are breached or a drone is flown illegally, e.g. operated by someone without a license, they are exposed to a penalty of 1 to 20 minimum wages depending on the seriousness of the facts.

Standard procedure. To avoid any incidents at the terminal, AERIS conducts regular tours and inspections of the airport boundaries and nearby areas to identify any suspicious activity or presence of unauthorized drones.

Their job is to identify any unauthorized activity, including the presence of drones.

“As part of AERIS’ ongoing efforts to safeguard the safety of air operations at the terminal, we have an operational safety reporting system that is active and responsive to any notification of drone-related hazards or incidents. Both employees and external parties can use this system to report the presence of unauthorized drones or any other situation that represents a risk to aircraft,” explained Juan Belliard, Director of Operations at AERIS.

In a case where a drone is identified flying near AIJS, the AIJS control tower is immediately notified. The control tower, in turn, would notify aircraft in the airport’s area of influence about the situation.

Simultaneously, AERIS would coordinate internally with the Air Surveillance Service and the complementary security team to identify the location of the drone operator, in order to take the necessary measures to ensure air safety.

If it is determined that the presence of the drone represents an imminent danger, additional measures such as confiscation of the drone may be taken.

Subsequently, the DGAC is notified of what happened and documented through an Action Sheet, which is shared with the relevant authorities.

The most recent and unique case so far this year is from April, when a pilot reported a drone flying near an aircraft. A tour of the sector in question was coordinated with the Air Surveillance Service, but neither the operator nor the indicated equipment was identified.

For the effectiveness of these procedures, any individual can also participate. If you identify someone flying a drone near an airport, you can report it to local law enforcement and the Air Surveillance Service.

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.

Energy savings at the Juan Santamaría Airport is equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption of more than 1,200 homes.  

• AIJS is a pioneer in Latin America and the Caribbean in international energy efficiency certifications.
• Beyond the certification, other actions are contemplated for 2023, such as the acquisition of 4 electric vehicles.

May, 2023. The commitment of AERIS, the interested manager of the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), to ensure that the country’s main air terminal operates in a sustainable manner resulted in a reported saving in electricity consumption of 263,375 kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2022 with respect to the previous year.

The impact of the reduction is such that this amount of kWh is equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption of about 1,200 homes in Costa Rica, according to AERIS calculations based on the National Energy Balance 2020.

“At AERIS we are committed to making the operation of the country’s main air terminal sustainable, which is why our Energy Management system is aligned with that objective. This consumption reduction result is due to the implementation of a series of actions for environmental sustainability, we are pleased to report that in 2022 we will exceed our energy performance goals,” said Ricardo Hernandez, CEO of AERIS.

The awareness of energy use carries over into innovations at AIJS. For example, the new commercial building was inaugurated last year, and it was planned to minimize its impact on energy consumption as much as possible, so that in the end it did not impact against the reduction goals.

This was made possible by actions such as optimizing the condensing temperature of the chiller located in the powerhouse, changing the lighting in the international terminal rooms, and raising awareness among stakeholders so that they would be responsible consumers of this resource.

This work earned AERIS and AIJS the Green Airport Recognition in 2022 from the Airports Council International – Latin America and Caribbean (ACI-LAC), which validates the commitment of AERIS and AIJS to sustainability and energy efficiency.

Enduring responsibility. The results obtained are intended to be sustainable over time, since as of 2021 Juan Santamaría International Airport is the only airport member of ACI-LAC to hold ISO 50001 certification; a standard that guarantees the organization’s good practices and quality standards achieved in energy management at the airport’s facilities.

In order to prepare itself to reach more milestones, AERIS anticipates that this year it will also work on the installation of sensors in the LED lamps in the Lobby and on changing the lighting fixtures in the main ramp and in the arrivals area.

AERIS Holding Costa Rica constantly analyzes the significant impacts of its operation and focuses resources and efforts to contribute to the achievement of 8 of the 17 SDGs.

These results are tangible evidence of the positive impact of AERIS on Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption and Goal 13: Climate Action. We are not complacent as we aim to have a 3% improvement in energy management by December 2024 and we hope that this will be a source of inspiration at the country level, as we believe that energy efficiency is a key development tool as it not only generates economic savings, but also an environmental and social impact,” said Adriana Bejarano, head of Environment, Health and Safety at AERIS.

Parallel action. In other measures aligned with energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction, the recent acquisition of four electric cars to be used in the Operations, Maintenance and Warehouse areas stands out.

They correspond to the CHOK-G2, a model that, in addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, has an electrical consumption of only 13 kWh per 100 km. With respect to the time it takes to fully charge, it is estimated at 8 to 10 hours.

To further measure its carbon footprint, a GPS will be installed in each car to measure its performance, hours of use, and other relevant figures so that, with the results obtained, comparisons can be made of its environmental impact with respect to internal combustion vehicles.

“It is a reflection of the sustainable operating perspective that we have, and that we share with our parent company, Grupo CCR. It represents a solution at the operational level for our AERIS people in the coverage of daily tasks, but also in terms of sustainable mobility, which contributes to energy savings and the environment; the latter goes beyond being a good practice that has been adopted by major airports worldwide, but is also a contribution to the country’s vision of moving towards zero emissions”,

Hernández added.

The vehicles purchased have a range of 100 km per charge and have a capacity for 4 people.

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.