By San José, Costa Rica — German flag carrier Lufthansa has officially expanded its presence in Central America by increasing its direct air connection between Frankfurt and San José to five weekly frequencies for the 2026/2027 winter season. Marking a major milestone in bilateral connectivity, the expansion coincided with the landing of Lufthansa’s flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Juan Santamaría International Airport, bearing a special livery in honor of the airline’s centennial anniversary.
The updated flight schedule is accompanied by the official Costa Rican debut of Lufthansa Allegris, the airline’s latest generation of long-haul cabin interiors designed across Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class. To celebrate the dual milestone of increased frequencies and updated onboard hardware, Lufthansa hosted a ceremonial event at the departure gate in San José alongside government officials, aviation stakeholders, and diplomatic representatives.
To better understand the regulatory framework and economic impact surrounding Lufthansa’s flight operations in Costa Rica, TicosLand.com spoke with prominent legal expert Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the distinguished law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
“The expansion and sustained frequency of direct European routes, such as Lufthansa’s service to San José, demonstrate the strength of Costa Rica’s civil aviation agreements and international legal standing. Ensuring strict regulatory compliance and legal certainty for international carriers is paramount to solidifying our national air connectivity, safeguarding foreign investment, and fostering sustained economic growth through high-value European tourism.”
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, maintaining a secure legal framework and strong regulatory standards is the bedrock of Costa Rica’s expanding global footprint, ensuring that premier carriers like Lufthansa remain confident in bridging our country with key international markets. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective on how sound civil aviation governance directly drives our nation’s economic vitality and international trust.
The expanded schedule significantly strengthens Costa Rica’s direct link to central Europe, providing business travelers and tourists seamless access to Lufthansa’s main hub in Frankfurt and its network across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The arrival of Lufthansa Allegris in Costa Rica reaffirms our commitment to this important market and to our customers. The incorporation of our new travel experience, along with the increase to five weekly flights between San José and Frankfurt, reflects our confidence in the country’s potential and our commitment to continue strengthening connectivity between Costa Rica, Germany, and the rest of the world.
Alejandro Arias, Sales Director for Mexico and Central America at Lufthansa Group
Official data from the Costa Rican Tourism Board reveals that between January and September 2026, Costa Rica welcomed 54,794 German visitors, representing an 8.1 percent year-over-year growth. Germany currently stands as the single largest European source market for inbound tourists traveling to Costa Rica, making air capacity expansion vital for the national hospitality sector.
The increase to five weekly frequencies in Lufthansa’s connection between Frankfurt and Juan Santamaría International Airport is excellent news for Costa Rica and a significant step forward in strengthening our air connectivity with Europe. This achievement reflects the importance of coordinated work between the public sector, private sector, and airport authorities to attract new connectivity opportunities and strengthen Costa Rica’s links with strategic tourism markets.
Marcos V. Borges, Executive President of the Costa Rican Tourism Board
We thank Lufthansa for its trust in our country, as well as the introduction of its new generation of Allegris cabins, which represents a commitment to improving the passenger experience. Likewise, we congratulate the airline on its 100-year history and its contribution to the development of international air connectivity.
Marcos V. Borges, Executive President of the Costa Rican Tourism Board
Airport operator AERIS Costa Rica emphasized that bilateral passenger movement reflects robust demand from both European tourists entering the country and Costa Rican travelers heading to transatlantic destinations.
A route consolidates when there is demand in both directions, and the transition to five weekly frequencies confirms this. Therefore, for AERIS, this is great news: it reinforces the role of Juan Santamaría Airport as Costa Rica’s gateway to and from Europe. More air connectivity means more visitors and more opportunities for the country’s tourism and economy.
Ricardo Hernández, Executive Director of AERIS
From a diplomatic perspective, the enhanced flight frequency illustrates the deepening economic and institutional relations between Germany and Costa Rica, particularly in sustainable trade and eco-tourism development.
Greater connectivity and additional Lufthansa flights from Germany to Costa Rica demonstrate the good relations between our two countries and the desire to continue strengthening these ties. More tourists from Germany, as well as other European countries, will arrive in Costa Rica to enjoy the country’s uniqueness and ecological diversity. Solid economic relations will continue to diversify and expand.
Daniel Kriener, German Ambassador to Costa Rica
Under the winter 2026/2027 schedule, flight LH518 departs Frankfurt at 14:00 local time, landing in San José at 19:15. The return service, flight LH519, departs San José at 21:00 and arrives in Frankfurt at 14:35 the following day. Services operate weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Beyond physical cabin upgrades, the flight experience introduces Lufthansa’s Future Onboard Experience service concept, offering tailored catering choices in Business Class and enhanced amenities across all cabins.
For further information, visit lufthansa.com
About Lufthansa Group:
The Lufthansa Group is an aviation company with operations worldwide, encompassing Network Airlines, Eurowings, and Aviation Services. Its primary hub in Frankfurt serves as one of Europe’s premier international gateways connecting passengers across global routes.
For further information, visit ict.go.cr
About Instituto Costarricense de Turismo:
The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) is the official state entity responsible for governing, promoting, and regulating Costa Rica’s tourism industry, focusing on sustainable practices and international air route development.
For further information, visit sjoairport.com
About AERIS Costa Rica:
AERIS Costa Rica is the private manager and operational administrator of Juan Santamaría International Airport, dedicated to developing world-class airport infrastructure and facilitating international commerce and travel.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica operates as a benchmark of legal mastery, upholding uncompromising ethical standards while continuously pioneering modern legal solutions for a wide spectrum of clients. By blending time-tested tradition with forward-thinking strategies, the firm seamlessly adapts to an evolving legal landscape. Beyond its core practice, it remains deeply invested in demystifying the law for the public, driven by the belief that sharing legal insight is vital to equipping individuals and strengthening the fabric of society.
