If you want to visit San Francisco, California, cross the Golden Gate to the observation deck on the other side of the bay, visit Alcatraz and take a tour of the iconic city on its tram or funicular, get to know Silicon Valley, vineyards and even go to Sacramento, You can do it through a new direct air route.
He Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT) announced that, as of May 22, 2025the airline United Airlines will inaugurate a new daily direct route between San Francisco International Airport and Juan Santamaría International Airport.
He maiden flight It will depart that day from the west coast of the United States at 11:34 p.m., local time, and will arrive in our country at 7:15 a.m. From Costa Rica, the departure will be on May 23 at 8:45 a.m., arriving to San Francisco at 2:34 p.m., on a Boeing 737-MAX8 plane.
“Increasing connectivity with the United States is essential for our country as it is our main source market for travelers,” highlighted William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism.
According to the ICT statisticsFrom January to August 2024, the country adds 2.1 million international tourist arrivals. Of them, 1.2 million come from the United States. Each visitor who arrives by air has an average expenditure of $1,893according to data recorded for 2023, an amount that is the highest since 2014.
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The new route to San Francisco opens in May 2025.
(ANDREW GOMBERT)
Connection
With this route, United will facilitate connections from San José with all its US operation centers.which would become the “largest US airline to Costa Rica and Central America.”
“The increase in frequencies and destinations to major US cities allows us to have a wide network of travel options for our customers to meet their travel needs,” he said Frederick Thomesales director for Central America and the Andean Region of United, who recalled that the company has already been providing service to Costa Rica for 34 years.
Ricardo Hernandezexecutive director of Aerismanager of the Juan Santamaría International Airport, also highlighted that the new route also favors commercial and business activities in other industries.
The ICT indicated that San Francisco is one of 11 American cities that house the best prospects or tourists with high interest in traveling to Costa Rica on vacation. The majority are people between the ages of 29 and 39, with incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 annually, with higher education, married with children, and interested in visiting countries that promote sustainable tourism.
The profile of the American tourist from that region is people interested in nature, cultural and gastronomic activities, and playing sports, among others, according to the ICT’s “Study of the Best Prospects: United States Market.”
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In total, by mid-2025, United will offer 800 daily flights to and from 147 international destinations, including 40 that – according to the same company – no other US airline serves. (Photo courtesy United / for EF)
Global expansion
The new direct route to Costa Rica is part of a new destinations package which will begin operating in May 2025 the company announced on October 10. It is “the largest international expansion in its history,” the airline reported.
Included are routes to Nuuk (Greenland), Palermo (Italy), Bilbao (Spain), Madeira (Portugal) and Faro (Portugal).
United highlighted that it is already the US airline with the most flights across the Atlantic and with the new routes it will add more than 760 weekly flights.
The firm is also adding new direct flights from Tokyo-Narita to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Kaohsiung, “destinations no other U.S. airline serves,” and a new nonstop flight to Koror, Palau. The new Asia Pacific and Oceania flights will seamlessly connect in Tokyo with United’s transpacific services to five hub locations in the continental United States.
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In total, by mid-2025, United will offer 800 daily flights to and from 147 international destinations.
But one step missing (that’s why they are scheduled for May next year): “All new flights are subject to government approval.”
The firm highlighted the expansion of its routes to Mexico and Central America, including Costa Ricawhich will add 23 destinations in Mexico and 65 destinations in the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In the case of Costa RicaUnited Airlines indicated: “Beginning May 22, United will also add a new daily flight between San Francisco and San José, Costa Rica, using Boeing 737-MAX8 aircraft.”
And he added: “United will now connect San José with its seven operations centers in the United States, further consolidating its position as the largest US airline to Costa Rica and Central America.”
United has operations centers in the USA: in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York (Newark), San Francisco and Washington DC
United Airlines has seven hubs in the US. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP)
