The Airports Council International (ACI) announced Wednesday that that Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela, northwest of San José, is the third-best airport in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

At Wednesday’s annual ACI ceremony to honor the recipients of Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards, the Juan Santamaría International Airport was recognized as the third best in the Latin American and Caribbean region, as well as the region’s “best improved” airport. The top two airports in the region went to Cancun, Mexico and Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Read More

Related posts:

1. Retirees Can Now Take Advantage of Costa Rica’s Newly Improved Airport Source : Live In Costa Rica During the last few...
2. Costa Rica airport to increase security Source: Tico Times By: Mike McDonald The Public Security Ministry...

Although the development of the southern zone airport has involved more studies and surveys than actual construction work to date, Ms. Chinchilla’s recent declaration that it should be designated as “in the public interest” has provided important assistance that will keep the project on track.

The president’s remarks, which also hailed the airport project’s ability to fight poverty and create jobs, mean that the effort should be given a high priority that will help it clear some previously daunting governmental hurdles. Plans call for the basic structure of the proposed international airport to be built starting in 2012.

To date, environmental studies and plans undertaken for the $35 million project have completed much of the required groundwork. For example, archaeological surveys have verified that the land selected for the airport is free of important sites and artifacts, including pre-Columbian stone spheres. However, more surveys are still ongoing, and more reports are expected before construction work is allowed to begin in earnest.

The Costa Rican tourism industry is pressing to move forward with the airport project, and real estate developers have expressed their support as well. The development of an international airport in the region would be a boon to those sectors of the economy. Current plans include a runway that could be up to 8,500 feet long, to be built on Fincas 9 and 10 in Palmar Sur de Osa’s Valle de Diquis. Finco 9 is already owned by a public agency, the Instituto Nacional de Fomento Cooperativo. Although the project has claimed enough land for key amenities including the passenger terminal and room for parking, the international airport is also going to require a control tower and a customs and immigration area. Two adjacent fincas may be purchased to support the airport’s future expansion.

According to officials, Funding for the airport will be provided by an allocation given to the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes by the International Civil Aviation Organization, along with additional money provided by the Dirección General de Aviación Civil and the national budget.

Related posts:

1. Investment Continues in Costa Rica Source : Live In Costa Rica Retirees and other small...
2. Airport expansion to be completed in November Source : The Costa Rica News By : VANESSA LOAIZA...

http://www.costaricaviews.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=1748Source: Media Global

21 July 2009 [MEDIAGLOBAL]: Since 2004, the Costa Rican airline Nature Air has stood as the world’s first certified carbon-neutral airline. The airline has committed itself to limiting the negative effects of air travel on the environment through a variety of programs and initiatives that promote responsible tourism.

Air travel produces carbon dioxide emissions that intensify the greenhouse effect and consequently aggravate climate change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere, “Although it is less than 100 years since the first powered flight, the aviation industry has undergone rapid growth and has become an integral and vital part of modern society. In the absence of policy intervention, the growth is likely to continue. It is therefore highly relevant to consider the current and possible future effects of aircraft engine emissions on the atmosphere.”

Nature Air has done just that. The airline seeks to counteract 100 percent of all its flight emissions through projects to improve fuel efficiency, protect and conserve tropical forests, safeguard biological corridors, and advocate environmental funding for local communities. “We are always thinking, ‘what more can we do?’” Nature Air representative Ronald Jimenez told MediaGlobal.

Nature Air, which currently operates flights throughout Central America, minimizes its carbon footprint through the use of fuel-efficient twin-engine fleets, controlled aircraft weight, and careful route planning.

Through the use of precise calculations on carbon emissions over a 12-month period from all flights, regardless of the number of passengers per flight, Nature Air determines the carbon dioxide emissions from one galloon of fuel. The calculation methods followed are processed through the Forestry Financing Department of the Costa Rican Government and consistent with guidelines established by the IPCC.

Once Nature Air has computed its fuel consumption and carbon emissions, it implements and invests in environmental projects required for sufficient carbon offsetting. The airline’s not-for-profit Carbon Offset Program directs its funds to reforestation projects throughout Costa Rica. Nature Air has also signed agreements with Fondo Nacional de Financiamiento Forestal, the Costa Rican Forestry Financing Department of the Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones, and the Ministry in charge of Environment and Energy.

Currently, Nature Air works with projects that are supported by the government of Costa Rica, which guarantees that the projects have acquired proper certification.

Nature Air also supports several initiatives in Costa Rica geared toward social responsibility and sustainable tourism, including the employment of local people for both administrative and operational positions, as well as the recycling of paper, plastics, and oils in office locations.

The airline has also founded Aerotica, Costa Rica’s first alternative fuel station that utilizes bio-fuel, and the NatureKids Foundation, an organization that teaches English language skills and self-empowerment techniques to the local communities. “When our company was started, our CEO believed that we should return something to our country, Costa Rica,” Jimenez told MediaGlobal. “We’re also teaching the people how to recycle and how to save energy,” Jimenez added

Related posts:

1. Kids Fly Free On Carbon Neutral Costa Rican Airline If you thought Costa Rica was just for hippie backpackers...
2. Tips for Responsible Travel – Promoting locals and their culture Source: Tourism When many of us think about sustainable actions...

Casa Presidencial photo. Ricardo Martinelli and Óscar Arias discuss development.

Source: A.M. Costa Rica

A southern zone airport will benefit both Costa Rica and Panamá, President Óscar Arias Sánchez told his southern counterpart Wednesday.

Both Arias and Ricardo Martinelli talked about joint development projects along the common border. The new Panamanian president also was reported to be interested in learning about Costa Rica’s government health system. He brought Franklin Vergara, his country’s health minister on the quick trip.

Arias had attended Martinelli’s inauguration several weeks ago. He told the Panamanian president that plans were advancing for the proposed international airport in Palma Sur, and Arias said the project would benefit both countries.

The two presidents discussed the possibility of a joint development plan along the border, according to Casa Presidencial.

Airports near La Joya Perfecta, The Center of Wellness

Costa Rican officials are hoping that the southern zone airport, when built, will have the same development
impact that the Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia has had on the Pacific coast.

Related posts:

1. Airport Project Continues with President’s Support Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla’s recent remarks have breathed new...
2. Costa Rican Airport Named 3rd best in Latin America Source : Tico Times The Airports Council International (ACI) announced...