COSTA RICA NEWS — The expansion of the San José international airport (SJO) that is currently underway will mean more retail rental space and the handling of larger aircraft.
The expansion work began in September and is expected to be ready in less than a year, confirms the operator of the terminal, Aeris. The construction is divided into two projects moving forward simultaneously: the boarding gates and a new shopping area.
Called Block G – the fourth stage of the terminal construction – will add two boarding gates located at the east end of the terminal, right across from the autopista Genera Cañas.
Currently, the San José airport can handle only one large aircraft in that area of the terminal, due to the limited space. The expansion work will double the capacity, that is, the terminal can serve two large aircrafts at the same time.
Aeris manager Rafael Mencia said the cost of the expansion is US$16 million dollars, paid for by the company, that has the airport concession until 2026.
“The big winner is the use who will have more comfort and shopping area while waiting their flights,” said Mencia.
The new commercial area will be about 1.000 square metres (11.000 square feet) that includes shops and eating areas.
Aeris anticipates closing this year with a record 1.8 million passengers.
The Juan Santamaria International airport
Alterra Partners operated the airport between 2001 and 2009. As of 1 July 2009, the privately owned Houston-based Canadian-U.S. company ADC & HAS and the Brazilian company Andrade Gutierrez Concessoes (AGC) – subsidiary of the conglomerate Andrade Gutierrez – took over the operations and administration of Alterra Partners, as the previous operators and administrators (AGI, Bechtel, SRL) had mismanaged the airport and its construction and were in non-compliance of the concession contract. The name was changed to Aeris Holdings, S.A. and the new operators/administrators of the concession installed a new management team with the objective of making it a world class airport.
Source: La Nacion; Central American Data; AirlineUpdate.com; Aeris
