(QCOSTARICA) Lufthansa, the German airline, confirmed that it will operate 2 weekly flights between Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) and San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO).
Through a press release, the company reported on Wednesday that the operation will continue with the 2 weekly flights – at least – until next October 24.
Lufthansa’s first flight since March will arrive this Wednesday at 6:10 pm Costa Rican time. The flight will then turn around for the flight back to Frankfurt on Thursday.
Lufthansa explained that the flights will be on Wednesdays and Saturdays:
“The resumed route will arrive in San José on Wednesday, August 5 and will take off from San José on Thursday, August 06, using an Airbus A340-300 with a configuration of three classes: Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy,” the airline said.
Costa Rica is the first flight the airline resumes in the region. However, the airline says it is confident that from this decision new air connections between Europe and the Americas will be added.
“The return of our operation to San José is undoubtedly a great vote of confidence and leadership. We highlight the early measures taken in the region in favor of the resumption of tourism, we are sure that with the support and constant evaluation of the measures necessary by the Government and, in coordination with the tourist actors, we now have a safe operation that will generate confidence in passengers and citizens,” said Daniel Serrano, Lufthansa manager for Central America and the Caribbean.
Although the airline did not confirm the passenger count for Wednesday, it is expected to be similar to Monday’s Iberia flight from Madrid, Spain, the first to bring foreign tourists after the reopening of Costa Rica’s international airports.
Though the requirements to enter Costa Rica have been well publicized here and other media, it is important to review them:
- Tourists entering Costa Rica from destinations Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU) must have a PCR test and a negative result 48 hours before the trip.
- Acquire travel insurance – for now only from the State insurer (INS) that covers quarantine accommodation and medical expenses for acute illness.
- The airlines must inform passengers, with Costa Rica as the final destination and prior to arrival in the country, that they must complete the form known as the Health Pass, as well as the mandatory use of masks during their passage through the terminal.
- Body temperature measurements will be carried out on all passengers and must pass through disinfecting rugs.
- Once the immigration process is complete, signs are available to distance the travel bubbles around the baggage carousels until continuing with the Customs and the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) processes.
What of leaving Costa Rica?
- Airlines to provide online checking facilities to make processes more efficient.
- Arrival time at the airport at least 3 hours before departure time or 4 hours for long-haul flights.
- The airport terminal must have a disposition of sinks before entering the terminal.
- Only international passengers will enter the departures level of the international terminal.
- The use of masks is mandatory.
- Temperature measurements, with thermal cameras, will be made at the access bridges to the departures level.
- Upon entering the international terminal, sanitizing stations and disinfecting carpets will be available.
- At boarding gates the use of the seats will be limited; In case of travel bubbles, they can use all the seats.
- The airline will establish procedures to organize the boarding process for small groups (10 passengers), starting with passengers at the rear of the plane. Passengers waiting to board should do so sitting in the boarding room.
