Southwest Airlines is introducing a weekly nonstop international flight connecting Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, with Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, Costa Rica. The route will commence on March 13, 2027, offering direct service between Central Texas and Costa Rica’s main air gateway.
The flights will operate once weekly on Saturdays. Departure from Austin is scheduled for 10:25 a.m., with arrival in San José at 2:05 p.m. The return flight leaves San José at 3:05 p.m., arriving back in Austin at 7:20 p.m. Tickets for the new service are currently available for purchase through Southwest Airlines.
Southwest’s Network Growth and Austin’s Gateway Role
This
route expands Southwest Airlines’ international offerings from Austin, where the carrier has maintained operations for nearly 50 years. The new service complements Southwest’s recently launched nonstop flights from Austin to Grand Cayman, reinforcing Austin’s emerging position as a significant international travel hub.
Austin’s expanding population, corporate presence, and leisure travel demand support the development of additional international routes. The airline aims to strengthen the city’s connections to Central America and the Caribbean with this new Costa Rica flight.
Travel Convenience and Costa Rica Access
The Saturday-only schedule facilitates weeklong vacation possibilities with convenient weekend departures and returns. Travelers in the Austin area gain direct flight access
to San José, a central hub for touring Costa Rica’s renowned natural and cultural sites.
From San José, visitors can explore the Central Valley’s volcanoes, coffee plantations, cloud forests, and nearby mountain retreats. Popular destinations reachable via the airport include La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and the Pacific coast beaches of Guanacaste.
Accommodations Near San José Airport
For travelers arriving from Austin, several notable lodging options are accessible. The Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton, offers a historic setting overlooking Plaza de la Cultura and the National Theatre in downtown San José.
Hotel Grano de Oro, housed in a restored Tropical Victorian mansion,
features a top local restaurant near Paseo Colón. The Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belén is a resort-style option located approximately three miles from Juan Santamaría International Airport, appealing to guests seeking proximity to the airport.
Regional Travel Connections
Southwest’s new Austin-San José service follows its recent launch of nonstop flights from Austin to Grand Cayman, operated by Cayman Airways, enhancing direct travel links to the Caribbean from Central Texas.
These additional routes reflect Austin’s expanding role as a source market for destinations throughout Central America and the Caribbean, driven by continued population and economic growth in the region.
