- The airline will start by flying 4 times per week and will begin daily flights on November 8th.
Good news keeps coming, with another new flight from North America to Costa Rica announced in less than a week. This Thursday, June 14, Costa Rican Vice President Epsy Campbell, alongside the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, announced that Spirit Airlines would launch a San José-Orlando route beginning on October 5th.
The US-based airline will launch the route with flights from Orlando International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport four times per week until the 7th of November and will begin daily flights on November 8th. This route will give a new, low-cost alternative for tourists traveling from the United States.
For Vice President Campbell, this development provides new options for Costa Ricans who want to travel to the United States and will attract tourists to the country. “We absolutely welcome this new option, and we will be directing our efforts to ensuring that other airlines begin to see San José, Costa Rica as a possibility, thanks to our major tourist offerings.”
“We at ICT congratulate Spirit Airlines for this important announcement, which will bring truly competitive offerings and will further strengthen Costa Rica as a destination for the United States. The North American market remains the top source of tourists for the country, with around 1.3 million visitors and a potential prospective market of over $20 million. This new route will enhance air travel operations for this vitally important market and will provide new opportunities at truly competitive markets”, said María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.
Rafael Mencía, Executive Director of AERIS Costa Rica, expressed his gratitude for the good news. “We are well aware of the importance of the North American market for our country, and this new operation underscores the good work by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, in which they can count on the excellence and security that have made Juan Santamaría International Airport stand out in the region”.
Mencía noted that every new route is a vote of confidence in the operations of Costa Rica's main airport, which opens up a host of options for domestic and international passengers to visit new destinations, while bringing new visitors to Costa Rica and its wide array of attractions.
Spirit announces major route expansion
The airline announced today that it would begin an unprecedented expansion in its flight offerings, with a wide array of international destinations and direct domestic flights to the Orlando region. This list includes the direct flight to Costa Rica in the beginning of October. “Spirit Airlines would like to thank President Carlos Alvarado for his support. We have been flying to and from Costa Rica for more than a decade, and we're very proud to expand in the country once more. Costa Rica is a beautiful country for our clients to explore a destination that is rich in culture, cuisine and the Costa Rican way of life”, said Bob Fornaro, Executive Director of Spirit Airlines.
With Spirit's expanding network, the airline has continued to improve its on-time performance and guest satisfaction, while increasing its commitment to investing in the guest experience. The airline, known around the world for its low-cost rates, recently announced that it will install high speed Wi-Fi connectivity throughout its fleet in summer 2019. Recent information from the Transportation Department shows that Spirit Airlines ranks among the top airlines for timeliness and baggage handling.
The US market was the main tourist-sending country for Costa Rica in 2017, with 1.2 million visitors and 40% of international arrivals. However, it is a market with opportunities for expansion and growth, especially with the launch of this new route, which offers a direct connection to Orlando for domestic and international passengers.
