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Costa Rica is a republic in southern Central America, bordered on the north by Nicaragua, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast by Panama, and on the southwest and west by the Pacific Ocean. The uninhabited and densely wooded tropical Cocos Island, about 480 km (about 300 mi) to the southwest in the Pacific Ocean, is under Costa Rican sovereignty. The total area of Costa Rica is 51,060 sq km (19,714 sq mi). The country's capital is San José.
Amendments  

06 May 2018

ch-aviation reporting that the Costa Rican CAA has suspended Air Costa Ricas' Operating License

04 May 2018

ch-aviation reporting that Nature Air has been grounded by the Costa Rican CAA again [updated]

15 Feb 2017

Air Costa Rica commenced operations with its maiden commercial flight on 10Feb2017 [status change]
ACASA (Aerovias Cariari)   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1968* - 1976
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : ACASA (Aerovias Cariari) >>AVE Airlines
Comments : ACASA (Aerovias Cariari) was founded in 1968
Aircraft : Nil at this time
ACS (Air Cargo Services)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1997* - 2000
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Aero Costa Rica   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1992 - 1997
Airline Code : ML : AEK
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Aero Costa Rica started service on 11May1992 with two B.727-200 Ex-Pan Am from San José to Miami. Ceased operations on 30Sep1997 - Regional, domestic scheduled and charter passenger services
Aircraft : B.727-200
Aero Costa Sol   
Status : Status unknown

Dates :

 1999* - 2006*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Aerobell Air Charter   
Status : Active

Dates :

 1988* - date
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Aerobell Air Charter was founded in 1988. Local and international private charter services
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Aerolineas Exaco (Expres Aereo Costaricense)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1978* - 1978
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Aeropostal Alas de Centroamerica   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 2005 - 2006
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Aeropostal Alas de Centroamerica was established in 2003 in San José by Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela as Aeropostal Alas de Centroamerica. It started operations in 2005
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Aerovias Sur   
Status : Unconfirmed

Dates :

 (****)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Air Costa Rica  last update: 06May2018
Status : Active

Dates :

 2017 - date
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Tica Air International >Air Costa Rica
Comments : Air Costa Rica was rebranded from Tica Air International (2014-2014). It commenced operations with its maiden commercial flight on 10Feb2017. Appears to have their Operating License suspended by the Costa Rican CAA
Aircraft : Boeing 737-300Q | Fokker 100
ANSA (Aerolineas Nacionales SA)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1958 - 1960
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : ANSA (Aerolineas Nacionales SA) was founded 1958. San Jose based carrier that ceased operating in 1960.
Aircraft : Nil at this time
APSA (Aeroservicios Puntarenas SA)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1971 - 1979
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
ASCA (Aerovias San Carlos)   
Status : Status unknown

Dates :

 1978* - 1979*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
ATSA (Aviones Taxi Aereo S.A ) (Air Charter Service)   
Status : Status unknown

Dates :

 1970* - 2010*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : ATSA (Aviones Taxi Aereo S.A ) (Air Charter Service) was founded in 1970. Private charter flights to both domestic and international destinations
Aircraft : Nil at this time
AVE Airlines (Aerovias del Valle)   
Status : Status unknown

Dates :

 1951 - 1979*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : ACASA (Aerovias Cariari) >>AVE Airlines
Comments : Aerovias del Valle commenced operations in Dec1951 and operated scheduled passenger/cargo services from San Jose
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Avianca Costa Rica   
Status : Active

Dates :

 2013 - date
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : ENTA + Nationales de Costa Rica =>Nationales de Costa Rica >LACSA >TACA Costa Rica >Avianca Costa Rica
Comments : Avianca Costa Rica was formed by the TACA Group by acquiring ENTA & Nationales de Costa Rica, merging and renaming them to LACSA. Renamed to TACA & Avianca Costa Rica in May2013
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Aviones Taxi Aereo   
Status : Status unknown

Dates :

 2004* - 2009*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Carga Expresa   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1983 - 1983
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Costa Rica Skies   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 2006 - 2008
Airline Code : -- : CSR
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Costa Rica Skies was a charter airline serving destinations throughout the Americas based in San José, Costa Rica. It was founded in 2002, though flight services only started in 2006. In 2008, the airline was shut down again due to financial problems
Aircraft : Nil at this time
CRAFT (Cargo Rica Air Freight Transport)   
Status : Unconfirmed

Dates :

 (****)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
ENTA (Empressa Nacional de Transportes and Aerovias   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1939* - 1939
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : ENTA + Nationales de Costa Rica =>LACSA >TACA Costa Rica >Avianca Costa Rica
Comments : Avianca Costa Rica was formed by the TACA Group by acquiring ENTA & Nationales de Costa Rica, merging and renaming them to LACSA. Renamed to TACA & Avianca Costa Rica in May2013 [TACA de Costa Rica was formed by the TACA Group by acquiring ENTA and and Nationales de COSTA RICA, merging and renaming them] [TACA COSTA RICA was originally formed by Pan American, the Costa Rican Government and private interests in 1945. Acquired TACA DE COSTA RICA in 1952. Transferred it's domestic network to SANSA in 1959. Renamed to LACSA in 1946 and to current name in 2004 after purchase by the TACA Group]
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Expreso Aereo Costarricenses SA   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1951* - 1966
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Expreso Aereo Costarricenses SA >LADECA
Comments : LADECA known as Expreso Aereo Costarricenses SA until 1966, is a Costa Rican operator formed in Apr1951 to undertake air taxi and charter work and crop spraying from San Jose, as well as domestic cargo charters
Aircraft : Nil at this time
General Air Cargo   
Status : Unconfirmed

Dates :

 (****)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Holiday Air (Costa Rica)   
Status : Not launched

Dates :

 (2016)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Holiday Air (Costa Rica) is planning to start in 2016
Aircraft : Nil at this time
JHM Cargo Express (Airlines)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1996 - 2000
Airline Code : -- : JHM
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : JHM Cargo Express (Airlines) was founded in 1997 as a A300F operator that does all-cargo services to North and South America
Aircraft : Nil at this time
LACSA (Lineas Aereas de Costarricenses)   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1946 - 2004
Airline Code : LR : LRC
Genealogy : ENTA + Nationales de Costa Rica =>LACSA >TACA Costa Rica >Avianca Costa Rica
Comments : LACSA was established on 17Oct1945 by Pan American World Airways, the Costa Rican government and Costa Rican private interests. It started operations on 01Jun1946 [TACA de Costa Rica was formed by the TACA Group by acquiring ENTA and and Nationales de COSTA RICA, merging and renaming them] [TACA COSTA RICA was originally formed by Pan American, the Costa Rican Government and private interests in 1945. Acquired TACA DE COSTA RICA in 1952. Transferred it's domestic network to SANSA in 1959. Renamed to LACSA in 1946 and to current name in 2004 after purchase by the TACA Group]
Aircraft : Nil at this time
LADECA (Lineas Aereas del Caribe)(Caribbean Airways)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1966 - 1967
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Expreso Aereo Costarricenses SA >LADECA
Comments : LADECA known as Expreso Aereo Costarricenses SA until 1966, is a Costa Rican operator formed in Apr1951 to undertake air taxi and charter work and crop spraying from San Jose, as well as domestic cargo charters
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Lineas Areas Trans Costa Rica   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1979 - 1988
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Lineas Areas Trans Costa Rica >Trans Costa Rica
Comments : Lineas Areas Trans Costa Rica was renamed to Trans Costa Rica in 1988
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Nationales de Costa Rica   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1939 - 1939
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : ENTA + Nationales de Costa Rica =>LACSA >TACA Costa Rica >Avianca Costa Rica
Comments : Avianca Costa Rica was formed by the TACA Group by acquiring ENTA & Nationales de Costa Rica, merging and renaming them to LACSA. Renamed to TACA & Avianca Costa Rica in May2013
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Nature Air  last update: 04May2018
Status : Restaring

Dates :

 2003 - 2018
Airline Code : 5C : NRR
Genealogy : TravelAir >Natureair
Comments : Natureair was formed in 1990 & operations started on 30Jun1991 as TravelAir. Noted as the world's first carbon neutral airline (Scheduled domestic passenger and cargo services based at San Jose's Pavas Airport).The airline was grounded on 11Jan2018 but resumed commercial flights later on 05Feb following a Costa Rican civil aviation authority (Dirección General de Aviación Civil de Costa Rica - DGACCR) decision to uplift an embargo on the airline's operations. Yet again the CAA has grounded the airline again (late Apr/May2018)
Aircraft : Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Paradise Air   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 2000* - 2013
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Paradise Air was an air charter operator flying to Panama, Nicaragua and throughout Central America and the Caribbean. The airline was based at the Tobías Bolaños International Airport, San José, Costa Rica and was the only FAA Part 129 approved charter operator in the region. The company, started in 2000, was owned and operated by a former corporate pilot, Art Dawley, who flew business jets for DreamWorks Movie Studios for many years. The charter company specialized in flying from San Jose to the various tourist based destinations throughout the region. Paradise Air ceased air charter operations on 16May2013
Aircraft : Nil at this time
RANSA (Ruta Aerea Nacional SA)   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1979 - 1980
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : RANSA >>Sansa
Comments : - [SANSA was formed in 1980 & took over RANSA in 1980]
Aircraft : Nil at this time
SAISA  last update: 16Jan2018
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1996* - 1997*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Flew An-24 aircraft but eventually ceased operating.
Aircraft : Nil at this time
SANSA (Servicos Aereos Nacionales)   
Status : Active

Dates :

 1980 - date
Airline Code : RZ : LRS
Genealogy : RANSA >>Sansa
Comments : SANSA was established in 1978 as a domestic airline of LACSA & operations started operations on 30Jun1980. Took over RANSA in 1980
Aircraft : Nil at this time
SERCA Costa Rica (Servicios de Carga SA)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1982 - 1982
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Servicios Aereos Nacionales   
Status : Status unknown

Dates :

 1990* - 1990*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
TACA Costa Rica (LACSA (Lineas Aereas de Costarricenses))   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 2004 - 2013
Airline Code : LR : LRC
Genealogy : ENTA + Nationales de Costa Rica =>LACSA >TACA Costa Rica >Avianca Costa Rica
Comments : Avianca Costa Rica was formed by the TACA Group by acquiring ENTA & Nationales de Costa Rica, merging and renaming them to LACSA. Renamed to TACA & Avianca Costa Rica in May2013
Aircraft : Nil at this time
TACA de Costa-Rica Transportes Aereos Centro-Americanos  last update: 2017
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1939 - 1952
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : ENTA + Nationales de Costa Rica =>LACSA >TACA Costa Rica >Avianca Costa Rica
Comments : TACA de Costa-Rica Transportes Aereos Centro-Americanos was acquired by LACSA in 1952. TACA de Costa Rica was formed by the TACA Group by acquiring ENTA and and Nationales de COSTA RICA, merging and renaming them. [TACA COSTA RICA was originally formed by Pan American, the Costa Rican Government and private interests in 1945. Acquired TACA DE COSTA RICA in 1952. Transferred it's domestic network to SANSA in 1959. Renamed to LACSA in 1946 and to current name in 2004 after purchase by the TACA Group]
Aircraft : Nil at this time
TACSA (Taxi Aereo Centroamericana) (Air Charter Service)   
Status : Status unknown

Dates :

 1970* - 2010*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
TAISA (Transportes Aereos de Integracion SA)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1971* - 1978
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : TAISA was founded in 1971
Aircraft : Nil at this time
TANSA (Transportes Aereos Nacionales SA)   
Status : Unconfirmed

Dates :

 (****)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Tica Air International   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 (2014)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Tica Air International >Air Costa Rica
Comments : Tica Air International was renamed to Air Costa Rica prior to start-up
Aircraft : Nil at this time
TICOS (Líneas Aéreas de Costa Rica)   
Status : Not launched

Dates :

 (2014)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : TICOS - Líneas Aéreas de Costa Rica was founded in Dec2012 to take over TACA’s dropped routes. Did not start operations
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Trans Costa Rica   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1988 - 2000
Airline Code : -- : TCR
Genealogy : Lineas Areas Trans Costa Rica >Trans Costa Rica
Comments : Lineas Areas Trans Costa Rica was renamed to Trans Costa Rica in 1988
Aircraft : Nil at this time
TransCarga   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1988 - 1992
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : San Jose based carrier that ceased operating in 1992
Aircraft : Nil at this time
TravelAir   
Status : Renamed / merged

Dates :

 1991 - 2003
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : TravelAir >Natureair
Comments : Natureair was formed in 1990 & operations started on 30Jun1991 as TravelAir. Noted as the world's first carbon neutral airline
Aircraft : Nil at this time
VEL (Vuelos Especiales Liberianos)   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 1983 - 1986
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
VivaCam   
Status : Not launched

Dates :

 (2015)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : VivaCam >VivaLatinoamérica
Comments : VivaCam was founded in 2015 as a LCC with the name being a contraction of "Viva Centroamerica". It was rebranded as VivaLatinoamérica prior to starting
Aircraft : Nil at this time
VivaLatinoamérica  added: 2017 + last update: 06Jan2018
Status : Unsure if still planned

Dates :

 (2017)
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : VivaCam >VivaLatinoamérica
Comments : VivaCam was founded in 2015 as a LCC with the name being a contraction of "Viva Centroamerica". It was rebranded as VivaLatinoamérica prior to starting
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Volaris de Costa Rica   
Status : Active

Dates :

 2016 - date
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Volaris de Costa Rica was set up by Mexican carrier Volaris in Mar2016. Received its AOC & commenced revenue operations on 30Nov2016, with scheduled double-daily flights between San José Juan Santamaría and Guatemala City
Aircraft : Nil at this time
West Caribbean Costa Rica   
Status : Inactive

Dates :

 2003* - 2005
Airline Code : 0W : WCR
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : No further information at this time
Aircraft : Nil at this time
Wiggins International   
Status : Status unknown

Dates :

 1979* - 1979*
Airline Code : -- : ---
Genealogy : Nil tree
Comments : Wiggins International was a DC.6 operator in the late 1970s
Aircraft : Nil at this time
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