Air France is strengthening its presence in Costa Rica by adding two extra flights on the San José-Paris route. From 19 June 2023, the airline will offer five weekly flights between San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport and the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub, operated by the latest addition to its fleet, the Airbus A-350.
This decision responds to growing demand in this market and illustrates Air France’s ongoing commitment to Costa Rica. “We are delighted to increase our flight offer to meet market demand (…) this equates to a 67% increase in seat capacity compared to summer 2022”, said Diana Vargas, Air France and KLM Commercial Director for Costa Rica and Central America.
Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, offering travellers greater flexibility to discover the natural wonders of Costa Rica and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. Departures are now scheduled every day except Tuesday and Thursday at 2.05pm, arriving at 5.20pm local time, with return flights leaving Costa Rica at 7.35pm and landing the following day at 2.20pm (average flight time 11 hours).
Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, William Rodriguez, welcomed the decision, which comes at a time when France has become the leading European market for Costa Rican tourism, with 38,358 passengers visiting the country in the first four months of the year. “It is a great satisfaction to see Air France increase its flights to five a week. This will not only help boost our economy but also create jobs.
The Airbus A350-900, which will operate this route, is the most modern aircraft in the Air France fleet. It offers an optimal travel experience on board, seating 34 passengers in Business class, 24 in Premium and 266 in Economy (324 seats in total).
What’s more, from a sustainability perspective – which is in line with IATA’s commitments – the A350 cuts fuel consumption by 25%, CO2 emissions by 25% and generates 40% less noise. “Air France’s choice of the Airbus A350 underlines its commitment to minimising environmental impact while offering excellent passenger service”, added Minister William Rodriguez.
