The Costa Rican government is considering moving domestic flight operations currently carried out at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela to Tobías Bolaños International Airport in Pavas, San José.

The proposal is part of a broader strategy to reorganize the country’s airport infrastructure and make better use of the capacity available at its main terminals. According to the government’s proposal, moving domestic operations would free up space at Juan Santamaría to expand its capacity for international flights.

A Proposal Linked to Growing Air Traffic

Juan Santamaría International Airport is currently the country’s main international gateway. The growth in passenger traffic has led authorities and the airport operator to promote several expansion and modernization projects.

The Juan Santamaría 2023–2042 Master Plan includes major investments to expand and modernize airport infrastructure, improve operational capacity, and accommodate expected growth in air traffic.

Several of these projects are already underway, including the expansion of the international terminal.

What Would Change for Domestic Flights?

The proposal would involve moving domestic flights currently operating from Juan Santamaría to Tobías Bolaños International Airport in Pavas.

The goal would be to separate domestic and international operations to a greater extent and use the available space at Juan Santamaría to accommodate continued growth in international aviation.

According to the government proposal reported in August, this reorganization could allow international flight capacity at Juan Santamaría to increase by up to 40%. This figure is an estimate associated with the proposal and does not mean that the increase has already been approved or implemented.

Tobías Bolaños Could Take on a More Central Role

Tobías Bolaños Airport, located in Pavas, already plays an important role in Costa Rica’s aviation network.

According to documents from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), Tobías Bolaños is the country’s main base for general aviation and handles a large share of private, charter, tourist, and flight-school operations.

The airport has also historically handled domestic passenger traffic. Official MOPT statistics show that between 2015 and 2019, Juan Santamaría handled the largest share of local passenger traffic, while Tobías Bolaños ranked second among the country’s airports.

The Airport Has Already Received Domestic Operations

The proposal would not mean creating domestic-flight infrastructure in Pavas from scratch.

In January 2024, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced that non-scheduled domestic flights operating from Juan Santamaría would be moved to Tobías Bolaños because of high demand at the Alajuela terminal.

The measure was intended to protect operational safety and reduce pressure on Juan Santamaría’s runway during periods of high demand.

At the time, the MOPT clarified that the measure applied to non-scheduled flights, such as certain air-taxi services, and not to regular scheduled domestic commercial flights.

The proposal being considered in 2026 would therefore be broader: it involves the possible relocation of regular domestic operations currently using Juan Santamaría.

Growing Air Connectivity

The proposal comes at a time when Costa Rica continues to strengthen its air connectivity.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board maintains official statistics on scheduled domestic and international flights, airlines operating in the country, routes, and available seats.

The continued growth in international demand is increasing the need to expand and optimize airport infrastructure.

What Could This Mean for Travelers?

For passengers using domestic flights, a potential relocation would mean that some routes currently associated with Juan Santamaría could instead depart from or arrive at Tobías Bolaños.

The location of Tobías Bolaños in Pavas could be convenient for travelers coming from San José and other parts of the Greater Metropolitan Area. However, any change would also need to consider ground transportation, schedules, airport capacity, and airline requirements.

For now, the proposal should be understood as part of airport planning and not as an immediate change affecting all domestic flights.

A Strategy to Free Up Space at the Main International Airport

The proposed reorganization of domestic flights forms part of a broader discussion about how to use Costa Rica’s airport infrastructure more efficiently.

Juan Santamaría continues to receive investment aimed at expanding its capacity, while the possible relocation of domestic operations could allow the Alajuela airport to focus more heavily on international traffic.

At the same time, Tobías Bolaños could regain a more prominent role in domestic and general aviation.

A Change That Still Requires Planning

A potential transfer of domestic flights would require coordination between the government, the Technical Council of Civil Aviation, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, AERIS, airlines, and other industry stakeholders.

It would also be necessary to evaluate Tobías Bolaños’ capacity to handle a greater volume of passengers and operations, as well as its infrastructure, safety, and service requirements.

For now, what has been confirmed is that the government is considering this possibility as part of its airport strategy. There is not yet an official relocation date, nor does the proposal mean that all domestic flights will immediately leave Juan Santamaría.

Toward a More Specialized Airport Network

The proposal reflects a possible move toward greater specialization among Costa Rica’s airports.

While Juan Santamaría continues to strengthen its position as the country’s main international airport in the Central Valley, Tobías Bolaños could take on a more prominent role in domestic and general aviation.

If ultimately implemented, the reorganization could become one of the most significant changes to the Central Valley’s airport structure in the coming years.

Official Sources

Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT): information on domestic aviation operations and the relocation of non-scheduled flights to Tobías Bolaños.

General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC): official documentation on domestic flights and airport infrastructure.

MOPT Airport Documentation: official information on Juan Santamaría and Tobías Bolaños airports.

Note: The possible relocation of regular domestic flights from Juan Santamaría to Tobías Bolaños is a proposal being considered in August 2026. It should not be presented as a change that has already been implemented.