**Airport Name and ICAO/IATA **
Name: Juan Santamaría International Airport
IATA: SJO
ICAO: MROC
Location (City, Country)
• City: Alajuela
• Country: Costa Rica
• Coordinates: 9°59′38′′N, 84°12′32′′W
Airport Type & Size
• Track: A paved track 07/25 of 3,012 meters long
• Terminals: Main passenger terminal and cargo terminal
• Size: Medium-sized airport, with 16 boarding gates on two levels
**Why should this airport be added to World of Airports? **
Regional importance: It is the main international airport in Costa Rica and the second busiest in Central America, after Tocumen International Airport in Panama.
Diversity of operations: Manages domestic and international flights, with a wide variety of airlines and destinations.
Operational challenges: The tropical climate presents challenges such as high humidity and reduced visibility during the rainy season, which adds realism to simulation operations.
Ongoing expansion: Modernization projects are currently being carried out to improve the infrastructure and the passenger experience, which reflects an evolving airport environment.
Major Airlines & Routes
• Main airlines: Volaris Costa Rica (base of operations), American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Avianca, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, among others.
Featured destinations:
• North America: Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Fort Lauderdale.
• Europe: Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Paris (Air France), Amsterdam (KLM).
Unique Features or Challenges
• Variable climate: During the rainy season, visibility can be reduced to just 100 meters due to high humidity, which represents a significant challenge for air operations.
• Geographic location: Located between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the airport experiences rapid weather changes and unpredictable weather conditions.
• Infrastructure in development: Although it is a medium-sized airport, it is in the process of expansion and modernization to adapt to growing air traffic and improve operational efficiency.
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