Copa emerges as Costa Rica’s largest airline as Avianca downgrades San Jose hub to focus city

Avianca's closure of its hub in Costa Rica has opened up opportunities for other carriers, particularly US carriers and Panama-based Copa. The Latin American airline group significantly downgraded its operation at the Costa Rican capital San Jose in late 2Q2013 as it cut five routes and reduced frequency on three others. Avianca previously considered San Jose as one of its four hubs but now calls it a focus city.

US carriers have been adding capacity to San Jose, with Delta launching service to Los Angeles, one of six destinations cut by Avianca. JetBlue has launched service to Fort Lauderdale.

Copa Airlines is also adding capacity to San Jose and will become the airport's largest carrier in early Oct-2013, when it adds a ninth daily flight from Panama City. Avianca was using San Jose as a competing north-south hub although the number of transit passengers had been small compared to its other hubs and miniscule compared to Copa's hub in Panama City.