Q COSTA RICA — The Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR) will add a new direct flight from Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, with the addition of a WestJet route that will begin operations on December 20, 2026.
The connection will link Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) with Guanacaste every Sunday until April 4, 2027.
The flights will be operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with a capacity of 174 passengers during the high season.
The new route strengthens connectivity with Canada, the second largest source of tourists to Costa Rica.
“This new route strengthens connections with our second largest source of tourists and will allow for job creation, economic development, and improved well-being for communities in Guanacaste and surrounding areas,” stated Marcos Borges, Executive President of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
With this addition, WestJet, a hybrid low-cost carrier and second-largest airline in Canada, consolidates its position as the Canadian airline with the most direct routes to Guanacaste. The airline connects this destination with Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, and Winnipeg.
“We are excited to offer our passengers more ways to trade their snow boots for sandals in the destinations that matter most to them,” said John Weatherill, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of WestJet.
Canada is the fastest-growing market for Guanacaste Airport. During the first half of 2026, passenger traffic from that country grew by 28% compared to the same period in 2025.
“We are pleased to welcome this new route from Ottawa, which reaffirms the preference of Canadian travelers for Guanacaste Airport as the main gateway to Costa Rica,” said Renata González, Commercial and Communications Manager of Guanacaste Airport.
Other major Canadian airlines offering service between Canada and Costa Rica are Air Canada, Air Transat and newcomer Porter Airlines.