Liberia airport in Costa Rica suspends operations, airlines activate flexible policies

Liberia’s international airport – Daniel Oduber Quirós in Guanacaste, Costa Rica – has suspended operations until November 21 due to poor weather, according to a travel alert posted by the Canadian government.

The closure is linked to heavy rains and floods brought on by Tropical Storm Sara, which battered parts of Central America last week, as well as urgent runway repairs, reports say.

Air Transat posted a notice to its passengers on Monday (Nov. 18), noting that some of its flights departing from Liberia are affected. “We are actively working to ensure the safe return of all our passengers to Canada within the next 48 hours,” the Montreal-based airline wrote.

Passengers who were originally scheduled to depart on November 17, 2024, departed Costa Rica via San José Airport instead.

The following new itineraries were also posted:

TS301 SJO – YYZ on November 19, Departure at 2:00 PM – Arrival at 8:15 PM

TS601 SJO – YUL on November 19, Departure at 4:00 PM – Arrival at 10:35 PM

Air Transat notes that airport check-in will be conducted based on the departure times of the flights.

Air Transat has arranged bus transfers from its resorts to take guests to San José. For pick-up times, and details, click here. 

Air Canada has also revised its ticketing policy for flights to Liberia for travel up until Nov. 21. For affected flights, passengers retrieve their booked to change their flight free of charge. For details, click here.

WestJet, too, has activated a flexible rebooking policy, offering a $0 one-time fee waiver will be offered for changes or cancellations for travel to Liberia up until Nov. 21. Click here for details.

The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) has called on the Costa Rican government to immediately reopen Liberia’s airport, saying it has caused significant inconvenience for domestic and international travellers, sparking outrage from industry stakeholders, the Tico Times reports.

“CANATUR expresses its indignation at the operational disorder caused by the reopening and abrupt closure, without prior notice, of the airport’s runway,” the organization said in a statement

The chamber emphasized that such airport disruptions harm Costa Rica’s reputation, especially as the busy winter season approaches

The Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José is also experiencing flight disruptions due to poor weather, the Canadian government says. 

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