The current airport on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is easily flooded and lacks the necessary conditions for being an international terminal.
The abundant rainfall characteristic of the area often causes waters to flood the runway of the international airport, leaving it inoperative.
Now, an area has been identified which is "a flat, large unobstructed area west of the current terminal which could have the necessary characteristics for the new project."
Among the works scheduled in Costa Rica’s main airport is the extension of the remote ramp from its current 75,000 meters to 91,000 meters.
Next year San Jose International Airport will extend its operational capacity with new works, with an investment of $15 million.
Elfinancierocr.com quoted Luis Carlos Araya, Vice minister of Air Transport, who said "This allows us to streamline the process of entry and departure of aircraft both for cargo and passengers. In addition, it will improve efficiency, since aircraft will not have to be towed and can therefore enter on their own. "
A contract has been awarded for environmental feasibility studies for a new international airport in southern Costa Rica.
The Spanish consortium formed by Acciona Ingeniería and its Costa Rican partner Interforest won the tender carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to conduct an environmental feasibility study for a new airport in the southern region.
On February 27th the ICAO will publish a tender for an Environmental Impact Study to build an airport in the Southern Zone.
The award will be held on April 13th and the company that wins will have a period of eight months to complete the report.
"By the end of the year we will have the exact criterion for deciding whether or not it is possible to build the airport," said Luis Carlos Araya, Vice Air Transport Minister, to Elfinancierocr.com
$100 million of loans have been granted, paving the way for larger passenger capacity at Juan Santamaria Airport.
A press release from the Inter-American Development Bank reads:
Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica has successfully completed a three-year restructuring process and is preparing to more than double its passenger capacity after partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).
The Government has discarded plans to build a 'mega-airport' between Sierpe and Palmar de Osa and is proposing a terminal to attend to charter and corporate flights.
Concern from environmentalists, because the construction would take place near the great Térraba-Sierpe marsh, along with complaints from the tourist industry about the impact on a region that lacks sufficient hotel facilities, contributed to the change in plans.
The Board of Directors of OPIC approved resources to support the expansion of the Juan Santamaría International Airport.
OPIC's loan will allow a consortium led by HAS Development Corporation (HASDC) to complete the renovation of the Juan Santamaría International Airport outside San Jose.
The project includes a terminal extension for immigration and customs procedures, waiting rooms and additional parking in remote areas.
President Laura Chinchilla declared of public interest the construction of the international airport in the South.
Declaring the airport a “national interest” can facilitate the project´s progress.
Elpais.cr. reports, "The executive order is for the first phase of the project, which includes studies and processes leading to construction, be completed in 2012, so the second stage is in advanced construction phase within two years."