Q COSTARICA — Canadian airline Air Transat confirmed a new direct connection between Quebec City and San José, which will begin operations on December 15.
The flight will be weekly and will operate permanently from Jean-Lesage International Airport (YQB) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), nonstop.
This announcement expands air connectivity with Canada, which is consolidating its position as the second largest source of tourists to Costa Rica.
“We are pleased to announce this excellent news for two reasons: it connects us with a new city, and Quebec City is the seventh city with which we have a direct flight from Canada,” stated William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism.
Rodríguez emphasized that the growth is the result of strategic actions with airlines and the Canadian tourism sector. “It reflects Costa Rica’s strong position in our second largest source of tourists to our country,” added the Minister.
AERIS, operator of the San José airport, also praised the impact of this new connection for the country.
“At AERIS, we celebrate the announcement of this new route between Quebec and San José, a result of collaborative work with airlines and authorities,” said Ricardo Hernández, CEO of AERIS.
Hernández indicated that the route boosts connectivity and exchange between the two destinations. “The addition of this flight represents a key opportunity to continue promoting tourism,” he added.
Air Transat highlighted the sustained demand for tourist destinations like Costa Rica.
“The demand for sun and beach destinations remains very strong, and the airline’s experience allows us to expand our presence,” explained Sebastian Ponce, Commercial Director of Air Transat.
The Canadian market is showing growth during the first quarter of 2026.
Data from Costa Rica’s tourism board, the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT), 146,841 tourists from Canada entered the country by air, representing a 27.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
Visitors from Canada primarily seek sun, beaches, and outdoor activities. Highlights include visits to volcanoes and waterfalls, hiking, and wildlife viewing. They also enjoy adventure activities such as rafting, zip-lining, and snorkeling, as well as wellness experiences like yoga.
Their average stay is 15.4 nights, and the average daily expenditure per person is US$227.50, reveals the 2024 ICT study.
With this new route, Costa Rica now has seven Canadian cities with direct flights:
- Montreal (YUL)
- Toronto (YYZ)
- Ottawa (YOW)
- Winnipeg (YWG)
- Vancouver (YVR)
- Calgary (YYC), and
- Quebec City (YQB) starting in December.
Fun fact: Major Canadian airport codes typically start with the letter “Y,” a legacy of early radio and weather station identifiers, often followed by two letters representing the city or local radio beacon. Why “Y”? In the 1930s, Canadian airports adopted radio station codes, and ‘Y’ was added to signify that the airport had a weather station (a “Yes” to weather services).