Costa Rica’s first general aviation terminal at San Jose Juan Santamaría International Airport is now open and exclusively available to business aviation operators.
The new terminal, which will operate under the name GAT SJO General Aviation Terminal, is managed by a consortium composed of Universal Aviation Costa Rica and local partners. The general aviation terminal is part of a new domestic terminal at Juan Santamaría International Airport which covers 15,260 square-feet.
“This is a historic day for Costa Rica and business aviation,” said Adolfo Aragon, senior vice president, Latin America and Caribbean, Universal. “Private operators who have ever been to Costa Rica before should be prepared for a faster, better, and more secure experience for private aircraft travelers.”
Now the terminal is officially open, upon deplaning, private passengers will be shuttled by their handling agents from the parking area to the terminal, which will have a dedicated area for customs, immigration and quarantine.
Other features of the terminal include: an exclusive VIP area for private operators, a reduced ground time from plane to car, no co-mingling with commercial passengers and roof-covered access both roadside and rampside.
All private aviation ground handlers, as well as home-based operators at MROC, will be allowed to operate through GAT SJO General Aviation Terminal.
Private operators will no longer have to clear formalities inside the airline terminal in potentially long lines, and passengers will no longer be separated from their baggage, which was previously mixed into commercial baggage carousels, adding more complexity to the operation and stress to the passengers.
