Juan Santamaría Airport Named Best Regional Airport in Central America and Caribbean

Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport has been awarded the title of Best Regional Airport in Central America and the Caribbean in the Skytrax 2026 World Airport Awards. This recognition highlights the airport's strong performance in passenger services, including check-in, security, cleanliness, and staff friendliness, based on surveys conducted between August 2025 and February 2026 involving travelers from over 100 nationalities. While Juan Santamaría topped the specific regional category, it placed second in the broader Best Airports in Central America and the Caribbean ranking, behind Punta Cana. Globally, the airport ranked 99th, entering the top 100 but trailing major hubs like Singapore Changi and Seoul Incheon. The award underscores Costa Rica's growing competitiveness in the aviation sector amidst increasing regional tourism demand. However, the results also indicate that while Central American and Caribbean airports are improving, they still face significant gaps in infrastructure and capacity compared to leading global hubs. This achievement serves as a positive indicator for Costa Rica's tourism industry, reinforcing the country's status as a key destination while highlighting areas for future development in airport facilities and passenger experience.