Guanacaste Airport, a member of the VINCI Airports network, and the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) announce the addition of a new route from Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), in the state of Illinois.

The new charter flight service will operate once a week from February 5 to April 2, 2027. The commercialization of the flights will be managed by tour operator Apple Vacations, utilizing a TUI Airways Boeing 737-800NG aircraft with a capacity for 189 seats.

Marcos V. Borges, Executive President of the ICT, assured that the addition of these operations is due to increased demand from potential tourists expressing interest in vacationing in Costa Rica to make the most of their vacation periods, enhance tourism supply chains, and contribute to job creation in Guanacaste and surrounding communities.

“Key cities for Costa Rica, such as Rockford, Illinois, show increased seasonal interest as people face travel constraints primarily due to work commitments. Detecting this situation makes charter operations extremely effective by providing convenient connections and highly favorable offers for this demographic, complementing regular flight operations to the country—particularly from the United States, our primary source market,” Borges added.

According to data from the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), between January and July, the country welcomed 1,853,430 international tourists across national airports, consolidating the United States as the main source market for tourists traveling to Costa Rica. During this period, Guanacaste Airport accounted for 67.2% of the net growth in international air arrivals to the country.

The introduction of this operation expands connectivity options between Illinois and Guanacaste, facilitating access for more U.S. visitors during a high-demand tourism season. “We are pleased to welcome this new charter service from the city of Rockford, Illinois, which expands travel options for those wishing to discover Guanacaste and Costa Rica. The addition of this service reflects the growing demand for our destination and highlights the vital role Guanacaste continues to play in the country’s tourism growth,” stated Renata González, Commercial and Communications Manager of Guanacaste Airport. González added: “As we prepare for a historical peak season, we remain committed to delivering service excellence that defines our airport and providing a smooth, satisfying travel experience for our passengers.”

About CORIPORT

We have been the State concessionaire since 2010 for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the new passenger terminal and associated land facilities at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport. Under its administration, the terminal is managed with a 6-Star Blue Flag status, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001 certifications, in addition to being the first carbon-neutral terminal in the region. LIR has been awarded the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) award in Latin America and the Caribbean for six consecutive years in the under two million annual passengers category by Airports Council International (ACI), which gathers over 2,000 airports worldwide.

About VINCI Airports

As the world’s leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports manages the development and operation of over 70 airports across 14 countries. VINCI Airports leverages its expertise as a full-service integrator to develop, finance, build, and operate airports, utilizing its investment capacity and operational know-how to optimize performance and modernize infrastructure while driving environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to adopt an international environmental strategy, aiming for net-zero emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) across its entire network by 2050 while supporting stakeholder transitions.

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