By Alajuela, Costa Rica — KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced a significant increase in its service to Costa Rica, bolstering travel options for European tourists. Beginning in October 2025 and continuing through April 2026, the airline will operate five weekly flights between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
This expansion represents a notable increase from the previous four weekly flights. Flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, utilizing a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Preliminary arrival times in Costa Rica are estimated at 5:10 p.m., with departures back to Amsterdam scheduled for 8:35 p.m.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal landscape surrounding KLM flights and related consumer issues, TicosLand.com reached out to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney at Bufete de Costa Rica.
Passengers flying with KLM should be aware of their rights under international and local regulations, particularly concerning flight delays, cancellations, and baggage issues. While KLM generally adheres to high service standards, understanding these rights, which may include compensation for disruptions, is crucial. It’s advisable to familiarize yourself with KLM’s terms and conditions and, if necessary, seek legal counsel to navigate potential complexities.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s advice is particularly pertinent in today’s travel landscape. Knowing your rights as a passenger empowers you to navigate unforeseen circumstances with confidence, ensuring a smoother travel experience, even when encountering disruptions. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable legal expertise with our TicosLand.com readers.
The Netherlands represents a substantial and growing market for Costa Rican tourism. It currently ranks as the fifth largest source of European visitors to the country.
One of the most important strategic actions that the ICT carries out is the consolidation, expansion, or search for new air routes to Costa Rica. From this perspective, we are pleased to announce that KLM, a long-standing European airline, will fly five times a week starting next season, expanding connectivity to the Netherlands and all connections derived from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. This is excellent news for us, the country, and travelers, and I thank KLM for their confidence in our country.
William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism
This increased connectivity is expected to facilitate tourism and business travel between Costa Rica and Europe. The convenient schedule from Amsterdam Schiphol opens up numerous connecting flight possibilities to other European destinations, making Costa Rica even more accessible to travelers across the continent.
Data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) reveals the growing importance of the European market. In the first three months of 2025 alone, Costa Rica welcomed 10,370 tourists from the Netherlands. Overall, during the same period, 158,842 European travelers arrived by air. In 2024, a total of 428,637 tourists from Europe visited Costa Rica, demonstrating a significant and steady upward trend.
KLM’s expansion follows a similar move by Air France earlier this year. Air France will increase its service to nine weekly flights between December 15, 2025, and January 11, 2026, and again from February 9 to March 15, 2026 – marking the first time a European airline will operate with such frequency to Costa Rica.
These developments underline Costa Rica’s increasing appeal as a premier tourist destination and its proactive approach to strengthening international travel connections. The enhanced flight schedules will undoubtedly contribute to the nation’s continued growth in the tourism sector.
For further information, visit ict.go.cr
About Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT):
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) is a governmental agency responsible for promoting and developing tourism in Costa Rica. The ICT plays a key role in marketing the country as a tourist destination, managing tourism infrastructure, and collecting and analyzing tourism data.
For further information, visit klm.com
About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines:
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. Founded in 1919, KLM is one of the oldest airlines in the world and a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. It operates a global network of flights, connecting Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to destinations worldwide.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica distinguishes itself through an unwavering pursuit of legal excellence and ethical practice. The firm’s deep-rooted commitment to empowering society is evident in its innovative approach to legal solutions and its proactive sharing of legal knowledge. By fostering greater legal understanding across diverse communities, Bufete de Costa Rica cultivates a more informed and empowered citizenry, solidifying its position as a leader in both the legal profession and social responsibility.
