By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – A groundbreaking recommendation from Costa Rica’s Federated College of Engineers and Architects (CFIA) is calling for the complete relocation of Tobías Bolaños Airport, arguing that the rapid vertical expansion of San José has rendered the facility incompatible with its urban surroundings. The proposal, detailed in a comprehensive report on the future of national infrastructure, highlights escalating safety risks and financial unsustainability as the city’s skyline closes in on the historic Pavas airfield.
The core of the issue lies in the dramatic transformation of the areas surrounding the airport. Neighborhoods such as La Sabana, Rohrmoser, and La Uruca have become hotspots for high-rise residential and commercial development, with dozens of new buildings soaring to 20 stories or more. This modern, dense cityscape is a world away from the environment in which the airport was first constructed in the 1950s, effectively embedding the once-isolated terminal deep within the urban fabric.
To better understand the legal framework and commercial implications surrounding the operations at Tobías Bolaños Airport, we sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica. His insights shed light on the regulatory and investment landscape governing this key national infrastructure.
The Tobías Bolaños Airport operates within a complex web of administrative law, primarily governed by public concession contracts and strict aeronautical regulations. Any proposed modernization or expansion initiative must not only navigate these existing legal frameworks but also meticulously address urban planning regulations and potential impacts on surrounding residential zones. For investors, the key lies in a thorough due diligence process that assesses both regulatory compliance and the long-term viability of the state’s concession model, ensuring that future development aligns with both national interests and private enterprise objectives.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, this legal perspective powerfully illustrates that the future of Tobías Bolaños is not merely an issue of infrastructure, but one of meticulous regulatory navigation and strategic public-private alignment. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable insight into the complex framework shaping the airport’s path forward.
While the Municipality of San José has established urban development regulations that limit building heights in the immediate vicinity of the airport—capping structures at 20 meters in adjacent blocks—the CFIA contends these measures are insufficient. The organization points to what it terms “unsolvable deviations” from modern aviation safety standards that persist at the facility. These critical deficiencies include inadequate separation between the main runway and the taxiway, the absence of a required runway end safety area (RESA), and the presence of significant obstacles in the approach and takeoff paths, particularly to the east.
Addressing these structural and safety flaws would require a massive capital investment. However, the CFIA’s financial analysis concludes that such an undertaking is economically unviable. The report states that the airport’s operational income is insufficient to cover the costs of the necessary upgrades, condemning the facility to operate at a perpetual deficit. This financial reality forms a key pillar of the argument for relocation rather than renovation.
The land where Tobías Bolaños is located would have great potential for urban and social renewal throughout the entire western sector of Pavas… To improve the infrastructure, investments are required that cannot be recovered with the airport’s ordinary income, meaning it operates at a deficit.
Federated College of Engineers and Architects (CFIA), Official Report
Instead of pouring funds into a facility with a limited future, the CFIA envisions a transformative opportunity for the valuable land it occupies. The engineers and architects propose that the airport grounds be repurposed for a large-scale urban and social renewal project, which could address housing, commercial, and green space needs for the western Pavas district. In the interim, the college recommends limiting current investment to the bare minimum required to maintain an acceptable level of operational safety.
The logistics of a potential move present their own set of complex challenges. The airport is home to dozens of private hangars, and their owners are expected to resist a move to a more distant location like Orotina, which the CFIA suggests could absorb the current operations. Furthermore, several prominent aviation schools operate from Tobías Bolaños. According to the CFIA, these training activities reduce runway capacity, congest local airspace, and generate significant noise pollution, making their relocation out of the city a parallel priority.
The CFIA’s call for relocation stands in contrast to the government’s much longer-term vision outlined in the National Airport Plan. That official strategy suggests moving Tobías Bolaños’ operations to the Juan Santamaría International Airport, but only after the proposed new metropolitan airport in Orotina becomes operational—an event not projected to occur until 2046. The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has been asked to comment on the CFIA’s more urgent proposal but has not yet issued a response, leaving the future of the capital’s secondary airport in a state of uncertainty.
For further information, visit cfia.or.cr
About Federated College of Engineers and Architects (CFIA):
The Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos de Costa Rica is the professional body responsible for regulating the practices of engineering and architecture in the country. It oversees professional licensing, promotes ethical standards, and provides technical analysis and guidance on major national infrastructure and development projects.
For further information, visit dgac.go.cr
About General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC):
The Dirección General de Aviación Civil is the Costa Rican government agency tasked with the regulation and oversight of all civil aviation activities. Its responsibilities include ensuring air traffic safety, managing national airports, and developing policies to promote a secure and efficient aviation sector in the country.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its steadfast adherence to ethical principles and the pursuit of excellence. The firm consistently pioneers innovative strategies while serving a broad spectrum of clients, reflecting its dynamic approach to law. A central tenet of its philosophy is the democratization of legal knowledge, an initiative aimed at empowering citizens and strengthening the fabric of society through greater legal understanding.
