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SJO

San José (Alajuela), Alajuela Province

Juan Santamaría International Airport
23:31 LOCAL · 70°F MOSTLY CLOUDY · 1 RWY · ELEV 3021 FT
Cancellations
None
of 14 departures on the board
Weather
70°F MOSTLY CLOUDY
Observed 05:00 UTC · MROC
Departures next hour
None
nothing scheduled in the next hour

Inside each terminal

Check-in, security, the station link and how to change terminals — verified against the airport's own pages.

Terminal Internacional

The only international terminal, built up over 25 years of concession management into 13 contact jet bridges and 7 remote aircraft stands. Its newest piece is a 3,800 m² arrivals hall that opened 21 May 2026, with expanded baggage inspection, Agriculture Ministry (MAG) and Customs processing, new rental-car counters, a business centre and a meeting plaza for waiting families.

Check-in

45 self-service check-in kiosks sit in the lobby, just before the boarding-lounge entrance, alongside free “SJO Free WiFi” internet.

Security

The 100 ml liquids-gels-aerosols rule (one clear 1-litre resealable bag per passenger) has applied since 19 April 2016. Since 1 July 2026, the paid SJO Fast Track lane offers a preferential route through the checkpoints: on departures it sits before immigration (04:00–20:00); on arrivals it has two separate access points, one before immigration and one before Customs (11:00–22:00). Passes are single-use and bought online through the airport’s own site; children up to 7 travelling with a valid pass-holder go free.

Accessibility

Wheelchair transfer, adapted restrooms, self-check kiosks, dedicated migration/security lanes and adapted counters run through the whole lobby, plus specialised detector arches for wheelchair users; the official taxi service also runs wheelchair-adapted cars. Travellers with non-visible disabilities can request a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard at the International Departures information point by showing a boarding pass or same-day booking confirmation.

Verified from official airport sources · View sources
Exit tax, special assistance — Airport information
Accessibility features — Accessibility guide
Self-check kiosks, Wi-Fi — Free services
Lounge locations by gate — VIP Lounges
New arrivals hall, May 2026 — New arrivals area (press release)
Jet bridges and remote stands count — 25 years of concession (press release)
Preferential-access lane hours and checkpoints — SJO Fast Track (press release)
Verified 5 August 2026

Terminal Doméstica

A separate, self-described “modern” building for domestic travel, away from the international terminal. Costa Rica Green Airways flies to Quepos, Cóbano and Puerto Jiménez; SANSA covers a wider network — Bahía Drake, Cóbano, Golfito, La Fortuna, Liberia, Nosara, Puerto Jiménez, Puerto Limón, Quepos, Tamarindo and Tortuguero.

Verified from official airport sources · View sources
Domestic carriers and destinations — Domestic Terminal
Airline list — Airline directory
Verified 5 August 2026

Concourse breakdown

Gates, airlines and what's worth your time in each concourse.

Gates
Airlines
Worth knowing
Lounges
INTL
AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat, Alaska, American Airlines, Arajet, Avianca, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta, Edelweiss, and 13 more
One single international terminal — 13 contact jet bridges plus 7 remote stands, and a new 3,800 m² arrivals hall that opened May 2026.
BAC Credomatic and VIP Lounge (gate 19), VIP Santamaría (gate 5)
DOM
Costa Rica Green Airways, SANSA
A separate, smaller building for domestic flights only — Costa Rica Green Airways and SANSA between them reach a dozen local airstrips.

Airline and gate assignments verified against the airport's official terminal guide and our own departure board, 5 August 2026.