News

• The country’s main air terminal handled 4,665,946 passengers in 2022.
• The incorporation of new self-service check-in kiosks and an increase in the number of destinations are part of the actions to ensure a consistent recovery in 2023.

 FEBRUARY,2023.  Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS) accounted for a total traffic of 4,665,946 inbound and outbound passengers in 2022, which represents a recovery of 90% compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.

“In addition to the very close recovery to pre-Covid-19 levels, we also report a 63% increase in passenger traffic in 2022 over 2021. These results reflect the fact that AERIS, with the support of CCR Group, its parent company, has worked together with government authorities and the airport community to make economic recovery through tourism a reality,” said Ricardo Hernández, CEO of AERIS.

December 2022 was the month with the highest peak of passengers, with a total of 456,012. Likewise, a monthly average of 388,828 inbound and outbound passengers was recorded. In contrast, the monthly average for the whole of 2021 was 238,515.

The work to position the country as an attractive, relevant, diverse, reliable and safe tourist destination has been key for passengers to choose Costa Rica as a vacation destination.

“We are very pleased that traffic at Juan Santamaría Airport continues to recover, which reflects the high level of interest that Costa Rica continues to maintain in the markets of greatest interest. We will continue to work hand in hand with AERIS and the private sector to achieve further growth, all for the benefit of the economy of Costa Rican households,” said Hermes Navarro, head of investment attraction of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).

Constant work towards recovery

AERIS, is constantly working to remain as the gateway to the pure life experiences offered by the country, so that, in search of the revival of the sector, constant efforts are made in conjunction with the ICT, to expand the supply for passengers, which currently is 25 airlines connecting to 35 destinations.

“Increasing destinations and commercial relations derives from good management between the public and private sectors. In 2023 we will continue to participate in meetings with airlines through the most prestigious fairs worldwide, where we provide updated information on available hotel capacity, ICT marketing and promotion plans, and communicate incentives for new destinations,” explained the general director of AERIS.

Additionally, to improve passengers’ pure life experiences, for this year AERIS intends to add technological innovations such as 20 new self check-in kiosks and e-gates, automated self-service gates so that travelers can enter and exit the country without having to go through the typical process of interacting with an agent.

“We expect to record the same number of passengers in 2023 as we had in 2019.  To achieve this goal, at AERIS we will continue to focus on making the airport increasingly competitive, providing greater passenger amenities, improving service and processing through commercial innovations, and technology such as: web check-in, use of kiosks, migratory procedures through biometrics, among others,” added Hernández.

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA, a company of the CCR Group of Brazil, is the Interested Manager in charge of providing services at Juan Santamaría International Airport and is responsible for the operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion of Costa Rica’s main air terminal.

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 participation in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil. The Manager seeks to exceed the standards of its contract (CGI), contribute to the growth of the country, through the efficient operation of the service, in a leading and safe airport in Latin America.

Currently, the SJO connects Costa Rica with 35 destinations around the world; 25 international commercial airlines and four domestic airlines operate at its facilities.