Record Travel Numbers Leads Costa Rica to Expand Arrivals Area at San José Airport
Costa Rica has officially opened a brand-new international arrivals area at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), giving travelers a smoother and more spacious arrival experience just in time for the busy summer travel season.
The new 3,800-square-meter facility began operations today at the airport in Alajuela as part of a larger $62 million expansion project designed to modernize and improve the country’s primary international gateway.
For passengers arriving in San José, the improvements will be noticeable immediately after baggage claim. The expanded arrivals area includes larger inspection zones for Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture, improved passenger flow, upgraded transportation coordination areas, rental car facilities, a business center, and a significantly larger public meeting space for families, drivers, hotels, and tour operators.
The expansion comes as Costa Rica continues to experience record tourism growth. Juan Santamaría Airport handled more than 6.4 million passengers in 2025 — the highest annual total in the airport’s history — including over 3.2 million international travelers during the recent high season between November and April.
For years, travelers arriving during peak periods have faced long immigration lines, crowded baggage claim areas, and congested exit zones, especially during weekends, holidays, and heavy North American arrival windows. The new arrivals terminal is intended to ease much of that congestion by creating a more organized and efficient flow through customs, baggage inspection, and ground transportation services.
Airport officials have also redesigned the exit process, with arriving passengers now exiting through the new expanded corridor instead of the older, more confined arrivals area. The updated space includes covered waiting areas, additional seating, and designated pickup zones for private transportation companies, hotels, tour operators, and family members.
The newly opened arrivals section is only one phase of a much larger airport modernization plan. Once completed, the full western terminal expansion will add more than 10,000 square meters of additional infrastructure, including upgraded baggage handling systems, expanded airline counter space, and future operational improvements.
According to airport operator AERIS, active infrastructure investments at Juan Santamaría currently total approximately $115.5 million. Ongoing projects include the terminal expansion, remote aircraft platform improvements, expanded public parking, service-road upgrades, and future domestic terminal enhancements.
For travelers flying into Costa Rica this summer, the changes should make the arrival experience noticeably more comfortable and less crowded. While immigration processing times during peak hours may still vary, the expanded facility provides significantly more space to move passengers efficiently through the airport and into transportation areas.
As Costa Rica continues adding international routes and welcoming growing numbers of visitors, Juan Santamaría Airport remains under increasing pressure to modernize and expand. Serving as the country’s main international hub for destinations including San José, Jacó, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Monteverde, and the Central Pacific coast, the airport plays a critical role in Costa Rica’s tourism economy.
The opening of the new arrivals area marks one of the most visible infrastructure upgrades at SJO in recent years — and for many travelers, it will now serve as a far more welcoming first impression of Costa Rica.
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