The Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is Costa Rica's main gateway to the world. Located in Alajuela, just 20 kilometers northwest of downtown San Jose, this airport moved over 6.4 million passengers in 2025 and continues growing. If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, relocating, or looking for the best flight connections, knowing which airlines operate here and where they fly makes a real difference.
Managed by AERIS Holding Costa Rica (part of Brazil's CCR Group), SJO is the second busiest airport in Central America after Tocumen (PTY) in Panama. With 29 commercial airlines, three global alliances represented, and direct flights to 55 destinations in 18 countries, SJO connects Costa Rica to North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
1. Juan Santamaria Airport: Key Facts
The main air gateway of Costa Rica
2. The Three Global Alliances at SJO
Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. All present at SJO.
One of the strongest assets of SJO is that all three major airline alliances operate here. If you collect miles or have status with any alliance, you can earn and redeem points flying to Costa Rica. Here is who belongs to which alliance:
3. Complete Airline Directory
All 29 airlines, country of origin, type, and key routes.
| Airline | Country | Call Center | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | Mexico | CR: 0800-052-1447 | MX: +52 55 5133-4000 | aeromexico.com |
| Air Canada | Canada | CR: 0800-052-1988 | +1 888 247-2262 | aircanada.com |
| Air France | France | CR: +506 4070-4330 | airfrance.cr |
| Air Transat | Canada | +1 866 322-6649 | airtransat.com |
| Alaska Airlines | USA | 1 800-252-7522 | alaskaair.com |
| American Airlines | USA | CR: +506 4001-6372 | USA: +1 800 433-7300 | aa.com |
| Arajet | Dominican Rep. | CR: +506 4001-8693 | +1 829 946-8284 | arajet.com |
| Avianca | Colombia | CR: +506 4002-3320 | Call Center: +57 601 307-3940 | avianca.com |
| British Airways | United Kingdom | CR: 0800-044-0141 | USA: +1 800 247-9297 | britishairways.com |
| Copa Airlines | Panama | CR: +506 4000-0478 | copa.com |
| Costa Rica Green Airways | Costa Rica | +506 4070-0771 | costaricagreenair.com |
| Delta Air Lines | USA | CR: +506 2257-4141 | USA: +1 800-221-1212 | delta.com |
| Edelweiss Air | Switzerland | +41 848 700 700 | USA: +1 833 626-0737 | flyedelweiss.com |
| Frontier Airlines | USA | CR: 2435-9262 | flyfrontier.com |
| Iberia | Spain | CR: 2036-0069 | iberia.com |
| Iberojet | Spain | +34 91 177 5345 | iberojet.com |
| JetBlue | USA | +1 800 538-2583 | jetblue.com |
| LATAM Airlines | Chile | +1 866 435-9526 | latam.com |
| SANSA Airlines | Costa Rica | +506 2290-4100 | flysansa.com |
| Southwest Airlines | USA | +1 800 435-9792 | southwest.com |
| Spirit Airlines | USA | CR: +506 2430-9925 | spirit.com |
| Sun Country Airlines | USA | +1 651 905-2737 | suncountry.com |
| TAP Air Portugal | Portugal | +351 21 843 1400 | flytap.com |
| United Airlines | USA | CR: 0800-044-0005 | USA: +1 800 864-8331 | united.com |
| Viva Aerobus | Mexico | MX: +52 55 4357-8482 (WhatsApp) | vivaaerobus.com |
| Volaris | Mexico | CR: +506 4000-0229 | USA: +1 855 865-2747 | volaris.com |
| Volaris Costa Rica | Costa Rica | CR: +506 4000-0229 | USA: +1 855 865-2747 | volaris.com |
| Wingo | Colombia | CR: +506 4102-3315 | Call Center: +57 601 307-8133 | wingo.com |
SJO also handles cargo operations through FedEx, DHL, LATAM Cargo, and UPS. The airport has a dedicated cargo terminal that processes international freight shipments year-round.
4. US Airlines: The Dominant Market
9 US airlines fly to SJO. It is the strongest route network from the airport.
The United States is SJO's largest international market, and for good reason. Nearly 50% of all tourists visiting Costa Rica come from the US. Nine different US carriers serve the airport year-round and seasonally:
5. Airlines by Country of Origin
Where each airline flying to SJO comes from.
Pura Vida Insider Newsletter: Travel & Relocation Edition
Flight deals, new SJO routes, and the best tips for traveling to and living in Costa Rica.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
6. Practical Tips for Flying Through SJO
What every traveler should know before booking and arriving.
- If you collect miles, prioritize airlines in your alliance. Star Alliance has the most options at SJO (7 airlines), followed by Oneworld (4) and SkyTeam (3).
- Low-cost airlines (JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, Viva Aerobus, Wingo) often have the cheapest fares but charge extra for luggage, seat selection, and meals. Compare the total cost, not just the ticket price.
- Copa Airlines offers the highest frequency from SJO with up to 11 flights a day to Panama City (PTY), where you can connect to the entire Americas through their Hub of the Americas.
- Arrive at least 3 hours before international flights and 4 hours for long transatlantic flights. Security lines can get long during peak hours (6:00-9:00 AM and 1:00-4:00 PM).
- International passengers must pay a $29 USD departure tax. It is included in most airline tickets but if it was not, you can pay at the special counter at the airport.
- SJO has free WiFi throughout the terminal, three VIP lounges (passes available for purchase), duty-free shops, cafes, and a food court. If you have a long layover, the City Mall is less than 1 mile from the airport and is Central America's largest shopping mall with over 300 stores.
- Two domestic airlines operate from SJO: SANSA and Costa Rica Green Airways. They connect San Jose with Liberia, Tamarindo, Nosara, Cobano, Quepos, Puerto Jimenez, Tortuguero, Limon and other tourist destinations inside Costa Rica.
- Small Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan aircraft serve domestic routes. Baggage weight limits are strict (typically 25-30 lbs / 12-14 kg per person). Check with your airline before packing.
7. Final Summary: SJO by the Numbers
The key figures you need to remember.
Sources: Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaria official website - sjoairport.com/aerolineas; AERIS Holding Costa Rica press releases 2025-2026; SJO passenger statistics January 2000 to January 2026 - sjoairport.com/estadisticas; Directflights.com SJO route data (updated June 29, 2026); AeroCorner - airport data and route analysis for SJO (June 2026); Juan Santamaria International Airport Wikipedia entry; AERIS November 2025 press release: 'Viva se prepara para aterrizar en Costa Rica con su nueva ruta San Jose-Monterrey'; Eoob.com.mx - SJO direct routes and destination data (June 2026). Airlines, routes, and frequencies change. Always verify directly with the airline or at sjoairport.com before booking.
Enjoyed this article? Read more on our Blog
Related Articles