Orotina San Jose International Airport

Orotina San Jose International Airport is a proposed airport development project located in the city of Orotina in Costa Rica’s Alajuela province. The airport is expected to be complete by 2027 and is set to replace San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport which is nearing capacity limits.

Jul-2017. Mott MacDonald delivered the masterplan for the new USD3.5 billion Orotina San Jose International Airport to Centro American Corporation of Air Navigation Services (COCESNA). 

Jun-2017. Costa Rica's government issued a decree formally approving the development of a new, USD3 billion international airport in Orotina, a city in Alajuela province. The airport will be known as the Metropolitan International Airport of Costa Rica. The initial, USD1.9 billion phase will have capacity to handle 7.8 million passengers p/a with a 128,000sqm terminal and is due to commence operation in 2027. The project will encompass three phases, with an ultimate design capacity of 50 million passengers p/a and 460,000sqm of terminal and facilities space. The airport will be financed externally and built and operated via a public-private partnership. An environmental study has been launched to complete technical validations of the project.

Jun-2016. Mott MacDonald stated it was selected by Corporacion Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegacion Aerea (Centro American Corporation of Air Navigation Services) to lead a site study, design and masterplan for Costa Rica’s Orotina San Jose International Airport. The project consists of technical, environmental and financial advisory, as well as airport development planning including traffic forecasting, infrastructure layout and terminal design. The project has a 12-month deadline.

Oct-2015. Costa Rica’s Minister of Public Works Carlos Segnini issued a tender to define where Orotina San Jose International Airport will be constructed. The study will evaluate the terrain and technical aspects of possible sites. Tenders are due by 07-Jan-2016.

Sep-2015. The airport's construction project experienced a setback as the search for land where would be constructed has been delayed by at least 15 months. The decision is now expected to be taken at the end of 2016. 

Mar-2014. San Jose's eventual replacement facility in the city of Orotina, west of the capital near the Pacific coast, will reportedly have capacity for 10 million passengers p/a upon its opening which may be expanded to 40 million passengers p/a. The new site will reportedly cover 600ha, while no expected start or completion date for construction was reported. The existing facility is nearing capacity and the potential for a replacement has reportedly been studied since 1976. The Juan Santamaria airport is experiencing around 5% year-on-year passenger growth which is expected to saturate the facility by 2025.