SJO - Costa Rica 🇨🇷

:round_pushpin: **Airport Name and ICAO/IATA **

Name: Juan Santamaría International Airport
IATA: SJO
ICAO: MROC

:globe_showing_europe_africa: Location (City, Country)

• City: Alajuela

• Country: Costa Rica

• Coordinates: 9°59′38′′N, 84°12′32′′W

:chart_increasing: 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

:vertical_traffic_light: **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.

:airplane_departure: 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).

:world_map: 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.

:camera_with_flash: Links, images, maps, or videos