The beginning of the Christmas season will be marked by improvements at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela.
Aeris -airport manager- reported that by that time four new boarding rooms, a parking ramp in two positions, a restaurant at departure level, a higher level for VIP rooms, and pet area will be open. The investment for these sections is $20 million.
The Airport will be extended to the west, in a space of four levels to the basement, arrivals, departures, mezzanine, 16 additional positions for check-ups, 15 check-in stands, an additional carousel for baggage claim, and expansion of the Customs and Agriculture area, to decrease the passenger processing time.
They also work on other aspects of security and transit facilities such as:
-Relocation and extension of La Candela Street: the street that goes to the east side of the airport is moved in about 300 meters and a new one of 1.5 km is created.
-Safety Zone at the End of the Runway: a 90-meter wide and 150-meter long area, without obstacles and intended for those cases where a take-off must be aborted.
-Extension of the Runway: in 60 meters, this will allow to create two access points from the new south parallel taxiway.
-New lighting system: complete change in the current system that is more than 40 years old.
-South parallel taxiway: the new surface will allow the planes to go to the head of the takeoff area or move to its parking position
-Perimeter Street Sector East: a street almost 3-km long on the side. This airfield will allow access to all types of vehicles such as maintenance, security and firefighters.
Other works are part of the Aeris Master Plan, with a total investment of $ 143 million.