Half of Canadian tourists and 30% of American ones come to Costa Rica via the Daniel Oduber Airport in Guanacaste.
Six years ago the ratio was 35% of Canadians coming into the country via the Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia. This air terminal also has become a favorite of U.S. tourists, as 30% enter through there whereas in 2007 the figure was just 20%.
In 2014 the airline of Panamanian origin will incorporate seven new aircraft, increase frequencies and open two new routes to the U.S.
This was announced by Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa. The new airline destinations to be incorporated are Boston and Tampa in the United States.
Roberto Gonzalez in his article in Prensa.com reports that "next year the company expects similar growth, with new frequencies which will be announced six months before operates start."
As of October 18 the Panamanian airline will make three flights per week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to Pedasi, in the province of Los Santos.
Prensa.com reports: "The airline will use a 12-passenger Caravan aircraft, with a capacity of 2,400 pounds. Air Panama has already made a request to the International Air Transport Association to register the route and get an international code, which will include the flight in major booking engines ".
Over the last four years passenger traffic at Nicaraguan airports grew by 7.5% .
This was reported by the International Airports Management Company. In the first eight months of 2009 345,473 passengers arrived at Managua International Airport .
Official statistics show that July was the month when the most tourists entered the country, with 56,257 visitors.
Ticas International Airlines has filed an application with the Civil Aviation authority for approval to operate charter flights to Cancun and San Andrés.
The information was confirmed by the director of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Alvaro Vargas, adding that it is likely that an agreement will be reached with representatives of Ticas International Airlines, due to the interest shown.
With five new Airbus 319 planes Air Ticos will begin operations in late 2013 with flights from San Jose to Mexico City, Miami and New York.
Ticos Air has submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation the necessary documentation to gain a certificate of operation valid for several international destinations.
The airline is expected to begin operations in December, since this is the third phase of a process started months ago.
The airline VECA has began a recruitment process and expects to perform its maiden flight next February.
We have been watching this recruitment drive with interest "because there are technical personnel we have to certify pilots, those responsible for instruction, flight attendants, maintenance staff, management, and quality staff," said Roger Menendez, executive director of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) .
The government is negotiating with Peruvian Airlines direct flights between the capital of Peru and San Jose International Airport.
Nacion.com reports that "On 17 May, Avianca announced changes to its services in Costa Rica, a measure that eliminated direct flights to Quito and Guayaquil, in South America, and also to Havana, the Cuban capital. On that occasion, the ICT acknowledged that it would affect, in some way, the arrival of visitors to Costa Rica and that it would negotiate with airlines in order to balance revenue. "
A Spanish shipping company is to start operations by the end of the year with a ship capable of carrying passengers, light vehicles and containers.
ElSalvador.com reports that "the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) confirmed that in late November it will close an agreement with the Spanish company Naviera del Odiel to start of operations of a ferry that will connect the Port of La Union to Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua. "
Air agreements have been approved with El Salvador, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Cuba in order to strengthen the open skies policy.
From a press release issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
The House has approved legislation ratifying four agreements on air transport agreements between the Government of El Salvador and the Governments of Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Cuba, which were submitted to the House by the Committee on Foreign Relations, Central American Integration and Salvadorans Abroad.
The Colombian airline Avianca has announced that as of September 17 it will run four flights a week between San Salvador and Chicago, United States.
Prensa.com reports: "The flight will be operated with an Airbus A319 aircraft, with capacity for 120 passengers, including 12 business class seats and 108 in tourist class, the company said."
The flights from El Salvador to Chicago will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:35 am, while those from the U.S. will will be on the same days but at 4:15 p.m.
As of August 27, Aeromexico will offer three weekly flights between Guatemala and Tapachula, Chiapas.
According to Fernando del Cid, commercial manager for Guatemala de Aeromexico the flights will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, in an Embraer 145 which seats up to fifty people.
For his part, Peter Duchez, director of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) said the new frequency "opens a range of possibilities for attracting tourists from southern Mexico to Guatemala" and for the exchange of business.
The airline has announced that from November 1 it will run four weekly flights between Guatemala City and Bogota.
"We are maximizing efficiencies in the operation of our network of routes so as to better serve our customers in the Americas and Europe," said Estuardo Ortiz, executive vice president of Avianca.
Although the route will run four times a week, it could later be extended to an every day service.
The Venezuelan airline has announced it will open a new route between Caracas and Managua with a stopover in Panama.
Hebert García, Venezuelan Minister of Water and Air Transport, said: "Conviasa should be a powerful airline nationally and internationally. We have to fulfill the plan we were left by Commander Hugo Chavez to make it the flagship airline of Venezuela ".
As of November 2 the airline will offer a new nonstop flight between Los Angeles in the USA and Guatemala City.
This new service will be operated by a Boeing 757-200 with capacity for 180 people and will be complemented with the daily service which Delta currently offers between Guatemala City and Los Angeles.
"We are celebrating the 15th anniversary of Delta services in Guatemala this year, connecting local travelers with a growing number of places in the United States and other international destinations," said Jose Antonio Torres, CEO of Delta for Central America.