Q COSTA RICA — Southwest Airlines will expand its connectivity to Costa Rica in 2027 with new service from Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, to Guanacaste Airport, as announced by the airport and the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT).
The new connections are part of efforts to expand travel options between the United States and Guanacaste province, one of Costa Rica’s top tourist destinations for international travelers.
The route between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR)will begin operations on June 5, 2027, and run through August 1 of that same year.
Flights will operate on Saturdays and Sundays, resulting in two weekly frequencies during the announced period.
Service will be provided using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which have a capacity of 175 passengers, according to information released by Guanacaste Airport, a member of the VINCI Airports network.
Currently, there are no direct flights between the two airports; Southwest’s entry will restore the non-stop connection between Austin and Guanacaste.
For Costa Rican authorities, these new routes represent an opportunity to boost traveler arrivals from the United States and increase direct air access options to Guanacaste.
